

















































































































































COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 













According to Scripture 


By LUTHER RICE BURRESS 
Author of Baptist Refreshments 


“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, 
in that they received the word with all readi¬ 
ness of mind, and searched the scriptures 
daily, whether those things were so. 
Therefore many of them believed.” 

Acts 17:11, 12. 


V 



> * 


MARSHALL St BRUCE COMPANY 
Nashville, Tennessee 






Copyright, 1923 
Luther Rice Burress 



APR 16 '23 


©C1A705080 

/ <nO I 


H'i 2. 6<lfh. ./<5x3 , 


CONTENTS 

PACE 

Title, According to Scripture. 1 

Dedication . 5 

Prefatory ._. 6 

The Bible. The Bible On Baptism. 7 

Introduction by Hight C. Moore, D.D., LL.D. 10 

God Willeth Not the Death of Any; Turn and Live. 34 

Not Saved By Works: Servants Rewarded According 

to Faithfulness. 36 

Excuses Offered: 

Baptism: Who Ought to Be Baptized?. 41 

The Lord’s Supper to be Observed In Church Capacity 42 

The World’s Bible. 44 

Born of God. How Not Bom of God. 45 

But of God. An Interview.. 51 

Mission of Christ Was to Establish a Spiritual King¬ 
dom .-.„. 55 

« 

Story By Dr. Gambrell. 57 

Bom of Water.... 58 

Grafts May Grow Together, But Do Not Hybridize.... 60 

The Briar That Blossomed.. 60 

The Commission, Go Ye Into All the World... 61 

Faith Not A Work of Man. 63 

Plan of Salvation in Eph. 2: 8-10. 63 

The Gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile. 65 

Baptized Unto Moses In the Cloud and In the Sea.. 66 

Christ Made and Baptized Disciples. 67 

Pentecost: Office of Repentance:. 69 

Shall Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. 70 

The Woman At the Well. 71 

Infant Baptism. 73 

Re-Immersion, Or Re-Baptism. 74 

Who Were the First Members of A New Testament 

Church? . 76 

By Whom Instituted?. 76 






























The Choosing of Matthais. Pentecost Again.... 79 

Dedication Day. 82 

A Compulsory Faith. 84 

Evangelist Penn Showing Resurrection By Works. 87 

Noah and Eight Souls Saved By Water. 89 

Two Justifications: One Before God: One Before Man 92 

Baptized Into Christ. 92 

Obedience ... 97 

Distinction Between Faith and Presumption.„... 100 

The Organizing Spirit and Principle of New Testa¬ 
ment Churches: Gambrell. 102 


Dilema: In Denying Immersion as Baptism and Per¬ 
forming Immersion for Baptism In the Name of 


the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 107 

Conundrum: Nonplussed: Did She Do Right?. 107 

Preparing to Float A Cube of Cork. Turn on the Lights 111 

Addendum: A Sick Soldier Going to Battle. 112 

A Dying Federal Soldier Calling for Water. 113 

A Partial Comparison Between New Testament and 
Catholic Churches .„. 114 

A Liberal Reward. 123 

The Priesthood of Christ. 125 

REPETITION: The World’s Bible. 126 

The Narrowness and Broadness of the Gospel.. 128 

















DEDICATION 


I dedicate the pages of this book to my beloved wife, 
Mrs. Annie Ball Burrress, who has accompanied me for 
fifty-nine years along the way, in joys or sorrows, in 
sickness and in health, and to our children and their chil¬ 
dren’s children, and to as many as the Lord shall call. 

I am now eighty-one years nearer eternal youth than 
when life with me began. I have not fought the “good 
fight” as I should, though I have kept the faith, and I 
willingly leave the crowning, if any, to him who doeth 
all things right. 

Luther Rice Burress, Author . 

Jonesboro, Ark. 


\ 

PREFATORY 

The Bible is shallow enough that the most timid 
swimmer may enter its waters without fear. 

It is deep enough for the most expert swimmer 
to enjoy without touching bottom. 

Its critics have been legion, but it is still here; 
they are gone. 

It is the root of all good civil law, and good 
practice. 

It has comforted millions, as no other book can 
comfort; and still continues to do so. 

When nations ignored its teachings, they fell. 

It tells what was, what is, and what will be—an 
epitome of life from the cradle to the grave, and 
then beyond. r 

It is God’s vital and inviolate Word, and can 
never be set aside .—John Watson. 


According to Scripture 


7 


THE BIBLE ON BAPTISM. 

The following texts were sought out from 
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, by Austin 
Crouch, D.D., while pastor at Corinth, Mississippi. 

For readiness to the reader, I have copied from 
the Bible the texts and contexts, knowing that a 
knowledge of immediate circumstances is helpful 
to the comprehending of the fact sought. 

BAPTISM has become a question of debate and 
should be studied with open Bible. 

It is the prayer of the Master and exhortation 
of the Apostles that all disciples “be one.” To 
this end their Lord and Teacher said, “Search the 
Scriptures” (John 5: 39). That they might have 
an understanding of the Scriptures, “God, who 
commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath 
shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowl¬ 
edge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus 
Christ” (2 Cor. 4: 6). “For every man’s work 
shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare 
it” (1 Cor. 3: 13). “He that hath my command¬ 
ments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” 
(John 14: 21). “He that loveth me not keepeth 
not my sayings” (John 14: 24). “OBEDIENCE is 
better than sacrifice.” 

After an earnest, and spiritual, and prayerful 
seeking to know the truth taught in these texts, 
note those that for baptism teach Sprinkling, 
Pouring, Immersion, Believer’s Baptism, Salvation 
Essential to Baptism, Infant Baptism, Holy Ghost 
Baptism, Water Baptism. 

The Savior said, “Follow me and I will make 
you fishers of men.” “Follow me,” let another 
bury your father. “Follow me,” though you bear 
a cross. “Follow me,” though you must sell your 
belongings. “And when he putteth forth his own 


8 


According to Scripture 


sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow 
him: for they know his voice.” 

When the eyes are opened by prayer and peni¬ 
tence, when the ear is purged by listening humbly 
for the revelation of His will, then all life, all 
history, are full of Him.— F. W. Farrar. 

In offering this primer to the public in its hum¬ 
ble utterance, I am moved by a sacred obligation 
to further serve my generation and those coming 
after, “by the will of God,” before I fall on sleep, 
and be gathered with those who have preceded to 
rest. Generations come and go, and ere the solemn 
foot-tread of the departing ones is hushed by the 
filling of their graves, the oncoming of followers 
with rapid step are heard at the door, seeking 
lessons of truth that animated the heart and mind 
of those who “believed God through Christ Jesus 
the Lord.” 

I have tried to express myself distinctly in keep¬ 
ing with the title of my primer, “According to the 
Scriptures,” with the purpose of helping others to 
find Christ and to walk with him as Enoch walked 
with God, not asking God to walk with him. It was 
Enoch walking with God in God’s way, rather than 
God walking with Enoch in Enoch’s way. 

The oncoming generation will read, and books 
written by those whom their eyes have seen, or 
their hands have touched, or known by living 
friends, or, last and greatest, the books that lead 
to the living fountain, are preferred. 

“Though old the thoughts and oft exprest, 

They belong to all who love them best.” 

The reader will find repetition of Scriptures, but 
I purposed in each repetition to show additional 
truth. I thank those from whose writings I have 


According to Scripture 


9 


drawn for the quotations used which give emphasis 
"‘According to the Scriptures” to the thoughts in¬ 
culcated. I have used a good part of a former 
booklet of mine. I have also added articles writ¬ 
ten in former days and high commendations by 
the readers. My former tracts and booklets have 
been so highly commended that modesty suggests 
not to repeat here. 

I hope for this to prove a greater blessing to a 
greater number of people than my former publica¬ 
tions. 

On account of bodily conditions I have retired 
from the pastorate and now employ my time in 
writing. 

I anticipate the pleasure of a hearty welcome 
through this book in the homes and hearts of many 
who know me, and many others who know of me 
through the gospel so dearly loved. 

May your prayers help me down the western 
side, the gospel adorning my life as I live in the 
four-score years, and what else of time allotted me. 

BLESSINGS, if any at my disposal, I lovingly 
give unto all. 

L. R. Burress. 

Jonesboro, Ark. 


10 


According to Scripture 


INTRODUCTION. 

“Duty without doctrine is a tree without roots: 

Doctrine without duty is a tree without fruits .” 

Sound doctrine is the substance of the Bible. 
Whatever lies upon the surface—history, poetry, 
prophecy, epistle, apocalypse—there is beneath 
all and in all the current of sound doctrine run¬ 
ning through the whole channel of revelation. To 
reject or ignore doctrine is therefore to reject and 
ignore the Word of God. 

Nor can there be the upbuilding of vital, manly 
Christian character without doctrine in plenty and 
of the right sort. A lack here means moral flabbi¬ 
ness, indistinct religious perceptions, spiritual dull¬ 
ness and inertia, inefficiency and incapacity at the 
post of duty. But sound doctrine insures strength, 
stamina, and success in both character and conduct. 

Moreover, the proclamation of the Bible is im¬ 
possible without doctrinal teaching. The pulpit 
which shies at doctrine is faithless and inane; it 
chokes the shepherd instinct and feeds the flock on 
husks. To be true and virile and forceful, the 
pulpit must expound the teachings of the Scrip¬ 
tures; otherwise, it has no reason whatever^ for its 
existence. 

And while the whole sphere of Biblical doctrine 
should be unfolded and accepted in its entirety, in 
proper perspective, and without prejudice, there is 
ample room and reason for holding and propagat¬ 
ing distinctive denominational views. If distinc¬ 
tive doctrine is not sound doctrine, let us abandon 
it; but if it is, then we cannot escape the obligation 
to propagate it to the ends of the earth. In so 
doing, we should, of course, manifest the spirit of 
Christ and not that of partisanship, bitterness, and 
strife. 


According to Scripture 


11 


Why, then, should the mention of doctrine be 
an occasion for hesitation in the pulpit or indif¬ 
ference if not opposition in the pew? We have 
suffered, we are suffering immensely, thereby; our 
views of Bible truth are too partial, one-sided, ob¬ 
scure; our work and worth are getting to be meas¬ 
ured not by the doctrines we hold but by the dol¬ 
lars we give; and our grasp of our mission in the 
world is not as firm and vital as it should be. 

We ought, by all means, to give more heed to 
sound doctrine. We ought to learn it accurately. 
We ought to proclaim it lovingly and faithfully. 
We ought to translate it into character and conduct. 
In short, the whole of our lives both individually 
and collectively in our churches ought to be de¬ 
veloped, dedicated and directed “according to the 
Scriptures.” 

In the following pages our beloved brother mag¬ 
nifies the word of God which he has preached with 
tongue and pen for so many useful years. Fair 
and fearless in the pulpit, wise and aggressive in 
pastoral leadership, trusted and honored in denomi¬ 
national affairs, clear and conscientious in all his 
writings, he has thought and taught and wrought 
“according to the Scriptures.” It is fitting, in the 
light of life’s eventide, that he should with open 
Bible and faithful pen produce another volume 
as the legacy of his devout mind and shepherd 
heart. And thus again “according to the Scrip¬ 
tures” the path of the righteous instead of deepen¬ 
ing into the dark shines more and more unto the 
Perfect Day. 

Hight C. Moore. 

Nashville, Tenn. 


12 


According to Scripture 


“THE BIBLE.” 

THE BIBLE ON BAPTISM 
MATTHEW 3 

MATTHEW 3: 1-17 

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching 
in the wilderness of Judaea, 

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand. 

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the 
prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in 
the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
make his paths straight. 

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s 
hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his 
meat was locusts and wild honey. 

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all 
Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan. 

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, con¬ 
fessing their sins. 

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and 
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, 
0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to 
flee from the wrath to come? 

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repent¬ 
ance: 

9 And think not to say within yourselves. We 
have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, 
that God is able of these stones to raise up children 
unto Abraham. 

10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of 
the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not 
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the 
fire. 

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repent¬ 
ance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than 


According to Scripture 


13 


I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall 
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will 
thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat 
into the gamer; but he will bum up the chaff with 
unquenchable fire. 

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan 
unto John, to be baptized of him. 

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to 
be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer 
it to he so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil 
all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up 
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens 
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God 
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 

17 And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is 
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

John’s Baptism from heaven, Matthew 21: 25; 
Mark 11: 30; Luke 20: 4; Peter refers to it, Acts 
1: 22 and Acts 10: 37; Paul, Acts 13: 24. 

Matthew 20: 20-23 

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s 
children with her sons, worshipping him, and de¬ 
siring a certain thing of him. 

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She 
saith unto him. Grant that these my two sons may 
sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the 
left, in thy kingdom. 

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not 
what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that 
I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the bap¬ 
tism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, 
We are able. 


14 


According to Scripture 


23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed 
of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that 
I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, 
and on my left, is not mine to give but it shall be 
given to them for whom it is prepared of my 
Father. 

Matthew 21: 23-27 

23 And when he was come into the temple, the 
chief priests and the elders of the people came unto 
him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority 
doest thou these things? and who gave thee this 
authority? 

24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I 
also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, 
I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do 
these things. 

25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from 
heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with them¬ 
selves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he 
will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 

26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the peo¬ 
ple; for all hold John as a prophet. 

27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We can¬ 
not tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you 
by what authority I do these things. 

Matthew 28: 18-20 

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying. 
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bap¬ 
tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatso¬ 
ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 


According to Scripture 


15 


MARK 
Chapter 1 

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God; 

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send 
my messenger before thy face, which shall pre¬ 
pare thy way before thee. 

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths 
straight. 

4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach 
the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 

5 And there went out unto him all the land of 
Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all bap¬ 
tized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing 
their sins. 

6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and 
with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he 
did eat locusts and wild honey; 

7 And preached, saying, There cometh one 
mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes 
I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he 
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus 
came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized 
of John in Jordan. 

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, 
he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a 
dove descending upon him: 

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying. 
Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased. 

Mark 10: 35-40 

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, 
come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou 
shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 


16 


According to Scripture 


36 And he said unto them, What would ye that 
I should do for you? 

37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we 
may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on 
thy left hand, in thy glory. 

38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what 
ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? 
and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized 
with? 

39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus 
said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup 
that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am 
baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 

40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left 
hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to 
them for whom it is prepared. 

Mark 11: 27-33 

27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as 
he was walking in the temple, there come to him 
the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. 

28 And say unto him, By what authority doest 
thou these things? and who gave thee this author¬ 
ity to do these things? 

29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I 
will also ask of you one question, and answer me, 
and I will tell you by what authority I do these 
things. 

36 The Baptism of John, was it from heaven, or 
of men? answer me. 

31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, 
If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why 
then did ye not believe him? 

32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared 
the people: for all men counted John, that he was 
a prophet indeed. 


According to Scripture 


17 


33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We 
cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, 
Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these 
things. 

Mark 16: 14-16 

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as 
they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their 
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they be¬ 
lieved not them which had seen him after he was 
risen. 

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the 
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be 
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

Luke 3: 1-22 

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Ti¬ 
berius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of 
Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and 
his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the 
region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of 
Abilene, 

2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, 
the word of God came unto John the son of Zach- 
arias in the wilderness. 

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, 
preaching the baptism of repentance for the remis¬ 
sion of sins; 

4 As it is written in the book of the words of 
Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying 
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
make his paths straight. 

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every moun¬ 
tain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked 
shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be 
made smooth: 


18 


According to Scripture 


6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth 
to be baptized of him, 0 generation of vipers, who 
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repent¬ 
ance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We 
have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, 
That God is able of these stones to raise up chil¬ 
dren unto Abraham. 

9 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of 
the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not 
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the 
fire. 

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall 
we do then? 

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that 
hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath 
none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and 
said unto them, Master, what shall we do? 

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than 
that which is appointed you. 

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, 
saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto 
them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any 
falsely; and be content with your wages. 

15 And as the people were in expectation, and 
all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he 
were the Christ or not; 

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed 
baptize you with water; but one mightier than I 
cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy 
to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy 
Ghost and with fire: 

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will 
throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat 


According to Scripture 


19 


into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with 
fire unquenchable. 

18 And many other things in his exhortation 
preached he unto the people. 

19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by 
him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for 
all the evils which Herod had done, 

20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up 
John in prison. 

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it 
came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and 
praying, the heaven was opened. 

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily 
shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from 
heaven, which said, Thou are my beloved Son; in 
thee I am well pleased. 

Luke 7: 27-30 

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I 
send my messenger before my face, which shall 
prepare thy way before thee. 

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are 
born of women there is not a greater prophet than 
John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom 
of God is greater than he. 

29 And all the people that heard him , and the 
publicans, justified God, being baptized with the 
baptism of John. 

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the 
counsel of God against themselves, being not bap¬ 
tized of him. 

Luke 12: 49-53 

49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and 
what will I, if it be already kindled? 

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; 
and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 


20 


According to Scripture 


51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on 
earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in 
one house divided, three against two, and two 
against three. 

53 The father shall be divided against the son, 
and the son against the father; the mother against 
the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; 
the mother in law against her daughter in law, and 
the daughter in law against her mother in law. 

Luke 20: 1-8 

1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, 
as he taught the people in the temple, and preached 
the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came 
upon him with the elders, 

2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what 
authority doest thou these things? or who is he 
that gave thee this authority? 

3 And he answered and said unto them, 1 will 
also ask you one thing; and answer me: 

4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or 
of men? 

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, 
if we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why 
then believed ye him not? 

6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will 
stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a 
prophet. 

7 And they answered, that they could not tell 
whence it was. 

8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you 
by what authority I do these things. 

John 1: 24-34 

24 And they which were sent were of the Phari¬ 
sees. 


According to Scripture 


21 


25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why 
baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor 
Elias, neither that prophet? 

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with 
water: but there standeth one among you, whom 
\e know not; 

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred 
before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to 
unloose. 

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond 
Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto 
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which 
taketh away the sin of the world. 

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh 
a man which is preferred before me: for he was 
before me. 

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be 
made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come bap¬ 
tizing with water. 

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the 
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it 
abode upon him. 

33 And I knew him not; but he that sent me to 
baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon 
whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and re¬ 
maining on him, the same is he which baptizeth 
with the Holy Ghost. 

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the 
Son of God. 

John 3: 22-26 

22 After these things came Jesus and his dis¬ 
ciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried 
with them, and baptized. 

23 And John also was baptizing in TEnon near 
to Salim, because there was much water there: and 
they came, and were baptized. 


22 


According to Scripture 


24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 

25 Then there arose a question between some of 
John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, 
Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to 
whom thou barest witness, behold, the same bap- 
tizeth, and all men come to him. 

John 4: 1-3 

1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Phari¬ 
sees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more 
disciples than John, 

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his 
disciples,) 

3 He left Judasa, and departed again into Gali¬ 
lee. 

John 10: 39, 40 

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but 
he escaped out of their hand, 

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the 
place where John at first baptized; and there he 
abode. 

The Acts of the Apostles 
Acts 1: 5 

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye 
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many 
days hence. 

Acts 1: 21-26 

21 Wherefore of these men which have com- 
panied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus 
went in and out among us. 

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto 
that same day that he was taken up from us, must 
one be ordained to be a witness with us of his 
resurrection. 


According to Scripture 


23 


23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Bar- 
sabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which 
knowest the hearts of all men y shew whether of 
these two thou hast chosen, 

25 That he may take part of this ministry and 
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, 
that he might go to his own place. 

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot 
fell upon Matthias; and he was numbeerd with the 
eleven apostles. 

Acts 2: 37-41 

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked 
in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest, 
of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we 
do? 

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be 
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall re¬ 
ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your chil¬ 
dren, and to all that are afar off, even as many as 
the Lord our God shall call. 

40 And with many other words did he testify 
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this un¬ 
toward generation. 

41 Then they that gladly received his word were 
baptized: and the same day there were added unto 
them about three thousand souls. 

Acts 8: 12-17 

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the 
things concerning the kingdom of God, and the 
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men 
and women. 

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when 
he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and 


24 


According to Scripture 


wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which 
were done. 

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusa¬ 
lem heard that Samaria had received the word of 
God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed 
for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: 
only they were baptized in the name of the Lord 
Jesus.) 

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they 
received the Holy Ghost. 

Acts 8: 34-40 

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I 
pray thee, of whom speakest the prophet this? of 
himself, or of some other man? 

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at 
the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 

36 And as they went on their way, they came 
unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, 
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all 
thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and 
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: 
and they went down both into the water, both Philip 
and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 

39 And when they were come up out of the 
water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, 
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on 
his way rejoicing. 

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing 
through he preached in all the cities, till he came 
to Caesarea. 


According to Scripture 


25 


Acts 9: 17, 18 

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into 
the house; and putting his hands on him said, 
Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared 
unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, 
that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled 
with the Holy Ghost. 

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it 
had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, 
and arose, and was baptized. 

Acts 10: 36-48 

36 The word which God sent unto the children 
of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is 
Lord of all:) 

37 That word, I say , ye know, which was pub¬ 
lished throughout all Judaea, and began from Gali¬ 
lee, after the baptism which John preached; 

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the 
Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing 
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the 
devil; for God was with him. 

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he 
did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; 
whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed 
him openly; 

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses 
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and 
drink with him after he rose from the dead. 

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the 
people, and to testify that it is he which was or¬ 
dained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that 
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall 
receive remission of sins. 


26 


According to Scripture 


44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy 
Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

45 And they of the circumcision which believed 
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, be¬ 
cause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. 

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and 
magnify God. Then answered Peter, 

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should 
not be baptized, which have received the Holy 
Ghost as well as we? 

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in 
the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to 
tarry certain days. 

Acts 11: 15-18 

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell 
on them, as on us at the beginning. 

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, 
how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; 
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like 
gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord 
Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand 
God? 

18 When they heard these things, they held their 
peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God 
also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 

Acts 13: 23, 24 

23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his 
promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 

24 When John had first preached before his 
coming the baptism of repentance to all the people 
of Israel. 

Acts 16: 14, 15 

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller 


According to Scripture 


27 


of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped 
God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that 
she attended unto the things which were spoken of 
Paul. 

15 And when she was baptized, and her house¬ 
hold, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged 
me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, 
and abide there . And she constrained us. 

Acts 16: 23-34 

23 And when they had laid many stripes upon 
them, they cast them into prison, charging the 
jailor to keep them safely. 

24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust 
them into the inner prison, and made their feet 
fast in the stocks. 

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and 
sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard 
them. 

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, 
so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: 
and immediately all the doors were opened, and 
every one’s bands were loosed. 

27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of 
his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew 
out his sword, and would have killed himself, sup¬ 
posing that the prisoners had been fled. 

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do 
thyself no harm: for we are all here. 

29 Then he called for a light and sprang in, and 
came trembling, and fell down before Paul and 
Silas, 

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what 
must I do to be saved? 

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 


28 


According to Scripture 


32 And they spake unto him the word of the 
Lord, and to all that were in his house. 

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, 
and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and 
all his, straightway. 

34 And when he had brought them into his 
house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, be¬ 
lieving in God with all his house. 

Acts 18: 8 

8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, 
believed on the Lord with all his house; and many 
of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were bap¬ 
tized. 

Acts 18: 24-26 

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at 
Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the 
scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

25 This man was instructed in the way of the 
Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and 
taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing 
only the baptism of John. 

26 And he began to speak boldly in the syna¬ 
gogue: whom when Aquilla and Priscilla had 
heard, they took him unto them, and expounded 
unto him the way of God m,ore perfectly. 

Acts 19: 1-7 

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was 
at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper 
coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain dis¬ 
ciples, 

2 He said to them, Have ye received the Holy 
Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, 
We have not so much as heard whether there be any 
Holy Ghost. 

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were 
ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 


According to Scripture 


29 


4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the 
baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that 
they should believe on him which should come 
after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in 
the name of the Lord Jesus. 

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, 
the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with 
tongues, and prophesied. 

7 And all the men were about twelve. 

Acts 22: 12-16 

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according 
to the law, having a good report of all the Jews 
which dwelt there , 

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, 
Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour 
I looked up upon him. 

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath 

chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and 
see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of 
his mouth. ' 

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of 
what thou hast seen and heard. 

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be 
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the 
name of the Lord. 

Romans 6: 1-6 

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue 

in sin, that grace may abound? 

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to 

sin, live any longer therein? 

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were bap¬ 
tized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism 
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from 


30 


According to Scripture 


the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also 
should walk in newness of life. 

5 For if we have been planted together in the 
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness 
of his resurrection: 

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified 
with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed, 
that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

1 Corinthians 1: 13-17 

13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for 
you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but 
Crispus and Gaius; 

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in 
mine own name. 

16 And I baptized also the household of Stepha¬ 
nas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any 
other. 

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to 
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest 
the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1 Corinthians 10: 1-4 

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should 
be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under 
the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud 
and in the sea; 

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: 
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed 
them: and that Rock was Christ. 

1 Corinthians 12: 12-14 

12 For as they body is one, and hath many mem¬ 
bers, and all the members of that one body, being 
many, are one body: so also is Christ. 


According to Scripture 


31 


13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one 
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we 
be bond or free; and have been all made to drink 
into one Spirit. 

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 

1 Corinthians 15: 20-29 

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and 
become the first-fruits of them that slept. 

21 For since by man came death, by man came 
also the resurrection of the dead. 

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ 
shall all be made alive. 

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the 
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his 
coming. 

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have 
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father: 
when he shall have put down all rule and all au¬ 
thority and power. 

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all ene¬ 
mies under his feet. 

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is 
death. 

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. 
But when he saith all things are put under him , it is 
manifest that he is excepted, which did put all 
things under him. 

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto 
him, then shall the Son also himself be subject 
unto him that put all things under him, that God 
may be all in all. 

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized 
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are 
they then baptized for the dead? 


32 


According to Scripture 


Galatians 3: 26, 27 

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith 
in Christ Jesus. 

27 For as many of you as have been baptized 
into Christ have put on Christ. 

Ephesians 4: 1-6 

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech 
you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith 
ye are called, 

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long- 
suffering, forbearing one another in love; 

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit 
in the bond of peace. 

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye 
are called in one hope of your calling; 

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, 
and through all, and in you all. 

Colossians 2: 8-13 

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through phil¬ 
osophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, 
after the rudiments of the world, and not after 
Christ. 

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the 
Godhead bodily. 

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the 
head of all principality and power: 

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the 
circumcision made without hands, in putting off 
the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision 
of Christ: 

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye 
are risen with him through the faith of operation 
of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the 
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened 


According to Scripture 


33 


together with him, having forgiven you all tres¬ 
passes. 

Hebrews 6: 1, 2 

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doc¬ 
trine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not 
laying again the foundation of repentance from 
dead works, and of faith toward God. 

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on 
of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of 
eternal judgment. 

1 Peter 3: 18-22 

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, 
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to 
God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened 
by the Spirit: 

19 By which also he went and preached unto the 
spirits in prison; 

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once 
the longsuffering of God waited in the days of 
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, 
that is, eight souls were saved by water. 

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 
also now save us (not the putting away of the 
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good con* 
science toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ: 

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right 
hand of God; angels and authorities and powers 
being made subject unto him. 

“He that loveth is born of God.” “If ye love 
me, keep my commandments.” “Ye are my friends, 
if ye do whatsoever I command you.” “He that 
hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is 
that loveth me.” 

“So then every one of us shall give account of 
himself to God.” 


34 


According to Scripture 


“These things are written that ye might believe.” 

“These were more noble than those of Thessa- 
lonica, in that they received the word with all readi¬ 
ness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, 
whether those things were so.” 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and 
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc¬ 
tion, for instruction in righteousness: that the man 
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
all good works (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17). 

GOD WILLETH NOT THE DEATH OF ANY. 
TURN AND LIVE. 

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a 
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly 
dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2: 15). 
“Be thou instant in season, out of season” (2 Tim¬ 
othy 4: 2). “As thou hast sent me into the world, 
even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 
17: 18). “Ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 
1: 10). “For the Son of Man is come to seek and 
to save that which was lost” (Luke 19: 10). 

“And thou shalt speak my words unto them, 
whether they will hear or whether they will for¬ 
bear, for they are most rebellious” (Ezekiel 2:7). 
“Search the Scriptures” (John 5: 39). “That the 
man of God may be . . . thoroughly furnished 

unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3: 17). 

To Bring Men to Christ —“We must first abide in 
Christ, as the branch in the vine” (John 5: 15). 
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for 
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal 
life,” “having compassion,” “saving with fear,” 
“pulling them out of the fire, hating even the gar¬ 
ment spotted by the flesh.” (Proverbial expression, 


According to Scripture 


35 


hating that which connives at sin, or borders on it.) 
(Jude 21: 23.) 

“Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade 
men.” “Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, 
as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you 
in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 
Corinthians 11 and 20). 

Men Must Realize That They Are Lost , as the 
following Scriptures teach: 

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of 
God” (Romans 3: 23). “For there is not a just 
man on earth that doeth good and sinneth not” 
(Ecclesiastes 7: 20). 

“Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth the 
law; for sin is the transgression of the law” 
(1 John 3: 4). “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” 
(Ezekiel 18: 4). “God sent not his Son into the 
world to condemn the world; but that the world 
through him might be saved” . . . for “he 

that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3: 
17, 18; see also Galatians 3: 10; James 2: 10). 

The Lost Cannot Save Themselves. 

No man can make reparation to God for the 
sins of the past. Man is exhorted TO BE SAVED: 
for “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our 
righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64: 6). 
“Not by works of righteousness which we have 
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the 
Holy Ghost, that being justified by his grace, we 
should be made heirs according to the hope of 
eternal life” (Titus 3: 5, 7). “And be found in 
him, not having mine own righteousness . . . 

but that which is through the faith of Christ, the 
righteousness which is of God by faith.” 


36 


According to Scripture 


NOT SAVED BY WORKS—“By the deeds of the 
law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight” 
(Romans 3: 20). “If thou, Lord, should mark 
iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?” (Psalm 130: 
3). . . . “for by the works of the law shall 

no flesh be justified” (Galatians 9: 16). “For by 
grace are ye saved. Not of works, lest any man 
boast” (Ephesians 28: 9). “To him that worketh 
not, but believeth on him that justifieth the un¬ 
godly, his faith is counted for righteousness” 
(Romans 4: 5). “Even the righteousness of God 
WHICH IS by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and 
upon all them that believe: for there is no differ¬ 
ence: For all have sinned and come short of the 
glory of God” (Romans 3: 22, 23). “Marvel not 
that I said unto thee, ve must be born again” (John 
3:7). 

Show That Christ is Willing and Able to Save — 
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who know 
no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of 
God in him” (2 Corinthians 5: 21). “The Lord 
has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53: 
6). “Who his own self bare our sins in his body 
on the tree ... by whose stripes ye were 
healed” (1 Peter 2: 24; Hebrews 9: 26; John 
1: 29). 

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac¬ 
ceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to 
save sinners” (1 Timothy 1: 15). “But this MAN 
because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable 
priesthood, wherefore he is able to also save them 
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 
he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (He¬ 
brews 7: 24, 25). 

Sinners Are Commanded to Repent and Believe. 
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” 


According to Scripture 


37 


(Luke 13: 3). This is repentance: “LET THE 
WICKED MAN FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE 
UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS; AND 
LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, and he 
will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he 
will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55: 7). “John 
came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye 
believed him not; but the publicans and harlots 
believed him” (Matt. 21: 32). An impenitent man 
will not and cannot accept Jesus as a Savior. 
“Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” 
(1 Corinthians 7: 10). Its effects taught in next 
verse. 

Repent and BELIEVE. To believe is not only 
to accept the testimony that Jesus is the Lord, but 
to trust him with the keeping or saving of the soul. 
“With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; 
and with the mouth confession is made unto salva¬ 
tion” (Romans 10: 10). “Sirs, what must I do to 
be saved?” And they said, “Believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16: 30, 
31). “God so loved the world that he gave his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 
3: 35). 

The Believer is Now Saved—His Salvation is 
Eternal —Many miss the joy of security by not see¬ 
ing this. “He that believeth on the son hath ever¬ 
lasting life” (John 3: 16). 

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of 
life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and 
he that believeth on me shall never thirst 
And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast 
out” (John 6: 35, 37, and verses 39 and 40). 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth 
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath 


33 


According to Scripture 


everlasting life, and shall not come into condemna- • 
tion; but is passed from death unto life” (John 
5:24,47-58). 

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall 
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out 
of my hand. My father, which gave THEM me is 
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck 
THEM out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father 
are one” (John 10: 28-30). . . . “kept by the 

power of God through faith unto salvation, ready 
to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1: 3, 5; 
Romans 8: 35-36; 1 John 3: 1, 2). 

Being Saved and Kept by the Father s Hand , we 
should obey him from love. “If ye love me, keep 
my commandments.” “He that hath my command¬ 
ments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” 
“If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 
14: 15, 21, 23). 

Should Serve for His Glory —“Let your light so 
shine before men, that they may see your good 
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” 
(Matt. 5: 16; 1 Peter 2: 12). “Herein is my 
Father glorified that ye bear much fruit” (John 
15: 8). 

“This is the love of God, that we keep his com¬ 
mandments; and his commandments are not griev¬ 
ous” (1 John 5: 3). 

First Duty of a Loving Convert is to Be Bap¬ 
tized and then learn and observe all things what¬ 
soever is commanded (Matt. 28: 19-20). “They 
that gladly received his word were baptized” (Acts 
2: 41). “Therefore glorify God in your body, and 
in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6: 
20; Ephesians 4: 1-32; Romans 12: 1-21). 

' The Faithful Servant Shall Be Rewarded — Sal¬ 
vation is a Gift—Reward is promised to the saved, 


According to Scripture 


39 


according to faithful service (Matthew 25: 21, 23; 
6: 19-21). 

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest”; 

. . . “if any man’s work abide which he hath 

built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any 
man’s work be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he 
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corin¬ 
thians 3: 10-15). Both saved. One rewarded. 
Other suffers loss. The REWARD is over and 
above SALVATION. 

Unfaithfulness Will Be Punished in this Life — 

. . . “If his children forsake my law, and walk 

not in my judgments; if they break my statutes and 
keep not my commandments; then will I visit their 
transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with 
stripes. Nevertheless my loving kindness will I 
not entirely take from him, nor suffer my faith¬ 
fulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor 
alter the thing that has gone out of my lips” 
(Psalm 89: 27-37; Hebrews 12: 5-11). See why 
Moses suffered (Deuteronomy 32: 48-52). David 
chastised (2 Samuel 12: 7-15). 

“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you 
as with sons; for what son is he whom the father 
chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12: 7). “Many are the 
afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth 
him out of them all” (Psalms 34: 19; see 2 Corin¬ 
thians 4: 17). 

Some Excuses Offered —I AM NOT SO BAD. 
“All have sinned and come short of the Glory of 
God” (Romans 3: 23; Psalm 14: 2, 3; John 3: 
18; 3: 3). 

I AM BETTER THAN SOME CHURCH MEM¬ 
BERS. “Judge not that ye be not judged” (Mat¬ 
thew 7: 1). “Except ye repent, ye shall all like- 


40 


According to Scripture 


wise perish” (Luke 13: 3). “So every one of us 
shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 
14: 12). 

I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH. “I came not to 
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 
2: 17). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans- 
eth from all sin” (1 John 1:7; see Isaiah 1: 18). 

I HAVE TOO MUCH TO SACRIFICE. “What 

shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, 
and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8: 36; also Matthew 
16: 24-27). “We brought nothing into THIS 
world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” 
(1 Timothy 6:7). 

BY MRS. J. WILLIAM JONES 

[Dr. John A. Broadus closed his “Memorial 
of Gessner Harrison” before the Society of Alumni 
at the University of Virginia, July 2, 1873, with 
these words: “And let it be the last words spoken 
today concerning Gessner Harrison, spoken, as it 
were in his name to the professors and the students 
of the university he loved so well, ‘Sirs, brothers, 
fear God and Work’.”] 

“Fear God and Work’” are words of gold 
Which will for ever be enrolled, 

As watchwords for our coming youth. 

By one who grandly lived their truth. 

“Fear God and Work,” this motto rare 
Was born of virtue and of prayer. 

Its matchless author lived it well. 

And working in the harness fell. 

“Fear God and Work,” to rest he’s lain 
But leave behind this grand refrain; 

Let us take up the note sublime 
And sound it till the end of time. 


According to Scripture 


41 


‘’1 ear God and Work,” his silver tongue 
Spoke priceless words to old and young, 

And though he ne’er will speak again, 

His blessed teachings still remain.” 

I FEAR I CAN’T HOLD OUT. “Kept by the 
power of God ’ (1 Peter 1:5). “None can pluck 
them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10: 28; see 
1 Corinthians 10: 13; 2 Peter 2: 9; Romans 8: 
35-39; John 20: 31). 

I AM AFRAID HE WON’T SAVE ME. “Who¬ 
soever believeth” (John 3: 6). “Whosoever will” 
(Revelation 22: 17). 

SO MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS AMONG 
PROFESSED CHRISTIANS. “For what saith the 
scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was 
counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4: 
3). “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom¬ 
ans 3:4). 

TIME ENOUGH YET. “Boast not thyself of 
tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may 
bring forth” (Proverbs 27: 1; see Luke 12: 16-21; 
Hebrews 3: 7, 8; 2 Corinthians 6: 2). 

Baptism —Who ought to be baptized? (Mat¬ 
thew 28: 19, 20; Acts 8: 12). “But when they be¬ 
lieved Philip preaching the things concerning the 
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, 
they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 
10: 47, 48). 

Baptism being a figure is DECLARATIVE and 
not PROCURATIVE. It symbolizes the BURIAL 
and RESURRECTION of Christ, and the believer 
passing from death into life (Romans 6: 3-6; 
1 Peter 3: 20, 21). “Not the putting away of the 
filth” (sins) “of the flesh, but the answer of a 
good conscience toward God.” 


42 


According to Scripture 


Baptism is a transferred word from the Greek 
language and means immersion. This is admitted 
by all, for an immersed believer is recognized as 
a baptized believer. It is wrong to recognize im¬ 
mersion in the name of the Lord and deny it as 
scriptural. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” 
(Romans 14: 23). Baptism does not symbolize the 
operation of the Holy Spirit, for Christ said, “He” 
(the Spirit of truth) “shall testify of me” (John 
15: 26). “He will guide you into all truth: for 
he shall not speak of himself” . . . “for he 

shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” 
(John 16: 13, 14). GO INTO water BEFORE bap¬ 
tism. IN WATER DURING BAPTISM. COME 
OUT of water after baptism. Philip and the eunuch 
went down into the water, “and he baptized him” 
—and came up out of the water (Acts 8: 38-40; see 
Matthew 3: 6, 16; Mark 1: 5, 9, 10). 

This is the WORK which shows FAITH in the 
BURIAL and resurrection of our Lord. “I will 
show thee my faith by my works” (James 2: 18). 

Lord’s Supper —Represents the death of Christ 
and is to be observed till he comes again (1 Corin¬ 
thians 11: 23-26). 

To Be Observed in Church Capacity —“Came to¬ 
gether to break bread” (Acts 20:7; also 1 Corinth¬ 
ians 11:17-20). “And I appoint you a kingdom as 
my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat 
and drink at my table in my kingdom” (Luke 22: 
28, 29). 

Since to be observed in CHURCH CAPACITY, 
whatsoever would EXCLUDE from a church, would 
EXCLUDE from the OBSERVANCE of the Lord’s 
Supper, What excludes from a church? Immor¬ 
ality (1 Corinthians 5: 13). Disorderly living (2 
Thessalonians 3: 6). Those who will not be recon¬ 
ciled to his brother or to the church (Matthew 18: 


According to Scripture 


43 


15-18). Heresies that necessitate divisions (Rom¬ 
ans 16: 17; 1 Corinthians 11: 19, 20; 2 Thessa- 
lonians 3: 6). Paul, speaking of divisions, says in 
1 Corinthians 11:20: “When therefore ye assem¬ 
ble yourselves together” (in a divided state) “it 
is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper” (American 
Revision). 

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him 
eat’ (1 Corinthians 11: 28). A correct interpreta¬ 
tion of this text cannot lead to what is meant bv 

J 

free, or open, or liberal communion. After ap¬ 
proval of conduct and doctrine by the assembly 
(“when ye come together in the church,” verse 18), 
the individual is exhorted to examine himself to 
see that his purpose is to eat in remembrance of the 
IiOrd’s death. If he is wrong in conduct or doc¬ 
trine, or purpose, he cannot eat not discerning the 
Lord’s body. He might discern his fellow Chris¬ 
tians rather than his Lord. 

A man might examine himself and find him¬ 
self to be an atheist. Shall he therefore be ex¬ 
horted to eat the Lord’s Supper? The order of the 
Jerusalem church was as follows: “They that glad¬ 
ly received the word were BAPTIZED, were 
ADDED to the church, CONTINUED steadfastly 
in the apostles’ doctrine, FELLOWSHIP and in 
BREAKING of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2: 
41, 42). 

Each Church is a Unit of Itself , and cannot be 
affected by any exterior combination. 

Local Churches may co-operate, but can’t com¬ 
bine into general or universal church. The Church 
at Corinth means the church at that place. The 
churches of Galatia means each of the local 
churches of that country. Churches and ordinances 
of New Testament mold exist not in the preference 
of men, but in and by the authority of the Lord 


44 


According to Scripture 


unto whom all power in heaven and earth has been 
given; therefore go teach to observe what he has 
commanded. 

A praiseworthy example was left by the Bereans, 
who “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, 
in that they received the word with all readiness of 
mind, and these things were so. Therefore many 
of them believed” (Acts 17: 11, 12). 

THE WORLD’S BIBLE. 

Christ has no hands but our hands, 

To do his work today; 

He has no feet but our feet, 

To lead men in his way; 

He has no tongues but our tongues, 

To tell men how he died; 

He has no help but our help, 

To bring them to his side. 

We are the only Bible 
The careless world will read; 

We are the sinner’s gospel, 

We are the scoffer’s creed; 

We are the Lord’s last message, 

Given in deed and word; 

What if the type is crooked? 

What if the print is blurred? 

What if our hands are busy 
With other work than his? 

What if our feet are walking 
Where sin’s allurement is? 

What if our tongues are speaking 
Of things his lips would spurn? 

How can we hope to help him 
And hasten his return? 

—Annie Johnson Flint, Selected. 

To obey is better than sacrifice” characterizes 
the loyal believer. Divine commands were given 
by our Lord in all good conscience to be obeyed 


According to Scripture 


45 


in “good conscience” by all who love him. All 
“good works” by men may be called “the answer of 
a good conscience before God.” 

Outward deeds can be used to show a man to 
seem to be such as he is not. Man sees the deeds 
and judges character, and may be deceived. God 
judges deeds through the conscience and cannot be 
deceived. The holy things of salvation are beyond 
the reach of hypocrisy, too sacred to be expressed 
in imitation. Man needs the purifying and elevating 
power within to answer back to God’s call to work. 

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full as¬ 
surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from 
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure 
water, let us hold fast the profession of our faith 
without wavering; for he is faithful that promised” 
(Hebrews 10: 22, 23). 

Prayer: Lord, lead my soul to a solemn, sacred 
soliloquy before an open Bible. Amen. 

FOUR THINGS. 

Four things a man must learn to do, 

If he would make his record true: 

To think, without confusion, clearly; 

To love his fellowmen sincerely; 

To act from honest motives purely; 

To trust in God and heaven securely. 

—Henry Van Dyke, DJ). 

“BORN OF GOD” 

The leading purpose of this book is to show that 
spiritual birth precedes baptism which is “accord¬ 
ing to Scripture” as Christ taught Nicodemus. 
How one enters the kingdom of God is the crux of 
Bible readers. Safety is within, danger is with¬ 
out, hence the warning, “Marvel not I said unto 
you, Thou must be born again.” 


46 


According to Scripture 


This mystical announcement by the divine 
Teacher fell with amazement on the mind of Nico- 
demus, a sincere inquirer after truth. Plain as the 
teaching is as how to become a citizen of the king¬ 
dom of God, confusion still lingers and keeps this 
spiritual necessity “a storm center” from which 
many winds of doctrine sweep over the creeds of 
men. Men biased by preconceived influences, or 
the desire to be original, or rediscover an old 
theory put many and strange meanings to revealed 
words. 

In entering upon this writing I am reminded of 
the fabled story of the North Wind and Southern 
Sun taking a burdensome cloak off of a man who 
was hindered in his work. 

The wind with blustering force and icy breath 
blew against the man, who all the while wrapped 
the cloak more tightly around him. The sun fol¬ 
lowing poured his bright and genial rays upon the 
man, who soon unconsciously laid aside his cloak 
and pursued his life work with freedom. 

May the writer with unbiased pen and reader 
with open heart let the Son of all grace “shine into 
our hearts to give the light of the glory of God 
in the face of Jesus Christ.” Truth properly told 
and heeded has enlightened and has afflicted no 
one. To know the truth is better than not to know 
it. “An intelligent truth is better than innocent 
ignorance.” Along by this place the aphorism, 
“To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady 
of the ignorant.” 

Human authority or opinion is nothing: The 
teaching of Christ is everything. Honesty of in¬ 
tent on man’s part is no substitute for Christ’s 
words. Christ is the fullness of the God-head 
bodily, and any worship that does not adore and 


According to Scripture 


47 


venerate him as supreme over all must be classed 
as idolatry. 

There is a vast distinction between Christ-ol-o-gy 
(Christ’s teaching) and Christ-ol-atry (Christ wor¬ 
shiped as a form of idolatry as kneeling before his 
image, attributing divine efficacy to a rosary, or 
to the ordinances, baptism and the supper.) 

He is secondary in nowise, being absolute in 
authority and the embodiment of all power “in 
heaven and in earth.” “Crown him Lord of all.” 
WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL 
LIFE? has awakened serious inquiry through the 
ages. There have been people without} books, 
but no people without altars of worship. Many 
taught that a god would ferry the departing spirit 
after death across the river that divides between 
time and the beyond. 

The Indian Medicine Man taught his Tribesmen 
how to reach the Happy Hunting Grounds beyond 
the sunset, as he thought. 

Paul found an altar among the heathen devo¬ 
tions upon which was the inscription “To the Un¬ 
known God.” Man believes there is one true God, 
supreme over all, who “will reward those who dil¬ 
igently seek him.” “Because that which may be 
known of God is manifest in them; for Go,d hath 
showed it unto them.” “For the visible things of 
him from the creation of the world are clearly 
seen, being understood by the things that are 
made, even his eternal power and, Godhead; so that 
they are without excuse.” Men of this faith only 
have been misguided and “have gone every one 
his way.” “Professing themselves to be wise they 
became fools and changed the glory of the uncor¬ 
ruptible God into an image made like to corrupt- 


48 According to Scripture 

ible man, and to birds, and to four-footed beasts, 
and creeping things.” 

Others claim that divine and saving virtue are 
imbued within places, things and men, so that a 
touch of these will insure spiritual life. Others 
have elevated the Bible ordinances to be mediums 
of eternal life, whereas they are only declarative 
and not procurative. 

Others have combined morality and philosophy 
under the term CONDIGNITY, defined by the 
dictionary meaning that men can so live as to 
merit spiritual and eternal life. This belief has 
wrought reformation in some instances, for men 
can change habits in natural life, improve condi¬ 
tions, but at best he is limited by the nature in¬ 
herited from “the first man, Adam, who was of the 
earth, earthy.” Religious education leads to know 
more of God, and elevates social relationship 
among men, but cannot give spiritual life, without 
which no man can enter the kingdom of God, 
which is spiritual. 

These theories have brought satisfaction to none. 
The most confident doers of the rites and ordi¬ 
nances of the gospel, and the most scrupulous mor¬ 
alists seek something else to do, to assure their 
salvation. The thirsty soul needs to drink “the 
waters of eternal life,” which Christ freely offers 
“without money and without price.” 

Regeneration, which includes all the good in 
reformation and morality, is that without which 
there is no salvation. In regeneration, man is made 
“a partaker of the divine nature.” 

“If there had been a law given which could 
have given life verily righteousness would have 
been by the law, but the Scriptures hath concluded 


According to Scripture 


49 


all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” 
The sacred man is a child of mercy. 

That man himself should be a reason, or do 
something of himself that could move God to re¬ 
deem him, is no where hinted in his word. “Come 
unto me and be ye saved” is his call. “He is slow 
to anger and plenteous in mercy.” “If right¬ 
eousness came by the law, then Christ died in 

• ** 
vain. 

How 1 to be Bom Again. “In the beginning 
was the Word, and the Word was with God. and 
the Word was God.” “All things were made by • 
him; and without him was not anything made 
that was made.” “He came unto his own (‘world’) 
and his own (‘world’) received him not. But as 
many as received him, to them he gave power to 
become the sons of God, even to them that be¬ 
lieved on his name. 

“WHICH WERE BORN NOT OF BLOOD” 

Not of earthly parents. 

Men love to trace their lineage through honor¬ 
able forbearers. The good, blood of ancestors gives 
radiant hues along the pathway of life among men. 
We compliment a brave and faithful man when 
we say “he shows a strain of maternal excellence.” 

The dairyman prides in the boasted strain of 
his herd. Good blood in man or beast gives good 
zest to animal life. 

The human family is from one source in which 
Satan sowed evil seed which are carried on in the 
stream. “The first man, Adam, is of the earth, 
earthy; such are they also that are earthy.” 

“Think not to say, ye have Abraham to your 
father, God is able of these stones to raise up chil¬ 
dren to Abraham.” 


50 


According to Scripture 


The Second Birth is not hereditary. Moses, the 
meekest of men left no son to take up his task and 
carry it to completion. 

The pious Eli gave sons that were religious but 
whose wickedness was reproachful to their father 
and destructive to themselves. 

Godliness is not transmissible. “Ye must be 
born from above.” 

To be well born is a good start in the race of 
life. An honorable paternity is an invaluable 
heritage and a stimulus to transmit it untarnished 
to the future. But we all are children of one 
man, Adam. “In Adam’s fall we sinned all.” 

However, man’s individuality, must answer the 
utmost responsibilities and obligations of living. 
“It is appointed unto man once to die, after that 
the Judgment.” “Marvel not, I said unto thee, 
‘Ye must be born again’.” 

The most stupendous fact was the coming of 
Jesus Christ into the world. 

The New Birth of a man is of this stupendous 
likeness. 

“Kind hearts are more than coronets. 

And simple faith than Norman blood.” 

“Nor of the will of the flesh.” The will of the 
flesh comprehends the active powers of the unre¬ 
newed mind. “For they that are after the flesh 
do mind the things of the flesh.” “Because the 
carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not 
subject to the law of God, neither can he. So then 
they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” 
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” 

Nothing born of earthly nature is fit for heaven. 

“Nor the will of man.” This denies that any 
one is inducted into the kingdom of God by the 


According to Scripture 


51 


volition of another man. That salvation is not be¬ 
stowed or delayed to suit the convenience, or will, 
or official pleasure, of any “go-between” the soul 
and God. 

To enforce my thought I relate the following: 
I was present when a minister preached “bap¬ 
tism essential to salvation” with much fervor, con¬ 
cluding his remarks by inviting persons to confess 
and be baptized. A prominent gentleman went 
forward and was approved for baptism. This was 
at night. Announcement was made that the broth¬ 
er would be baptized tomorrow at 10 A.M. 

Feeling some interest in the community affairs, 
I remained until I could speak to the candidate for 
tlie ordinance. 

I asked him if he believed his salvation depended 
on his being baptized. He answered “Yes.” “Is 
your salvation stayed till ten o’clock tomorrow 
morning?” I asked. He answered affirmatively. 
“Have you any assurance that you will live till 
then?” I further asked. He went to the preacher 
and requested baptism immediately. It was not 
convenient for the preacher at that hour, so delay 
continued. The WILL of the preacher postponed 
the hour of salvation till the appointed tomorrow. 
“Nor of the will of man” 

These strong negative denials of any human me¬ 
dium bringing into sonship and citizenship in the 
heavenly kingdom, “making them heirs of God 
and joint heirs with Jesus Christ,” gives momen¬ 
tous significance to these words. 

“BUT OF GOD” 

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth 
anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith that 
worketh by love.” “God so loved the world that 


52 


According to Scripture 


he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth on him should not perish, but have eternal 
life.” 

“Quickened together with Christ.” “Partaking of 
the divine nature.” “Christ formed in the heart the 
hope of glory.” “Therefore, if any man be in 
Christ, he is a new creature: old things have 
passed away; behold all things are become new.” 
Because, “Born of God.” 

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who 
knew no sin; that we might be made the right¬ 
eousness of God in him.” “We then, workers 
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive 
not the grace of God in vain.” 

There is a whole lot between the natural man 
and the spiritual man. This in the kingdom of 
light, that in the kingdom of darkness. Man can¬ 
not enter the realm of the Spirit by any natural 
science, as he could not learn the going of the 
stars by learning the map of the bottom of the 
ocean. 

Omniscience hath conceived, Omnipotence hath 
provided the way, let us walk therein. 

“God’s way is not only the best way of salva¬ 
tion—it is the only way.” 

AN INTERVIEW 

An educator said, “With Mark Hopkins seated 
on one end of a log and a student on the other 
end, there would be a university.” 

A greater Teacher than any of earth’s renowned 
teachers is sought by Nicodemus, who is not a 
schoolboy, but like Moses when he made his choice 
to throw his lot with the children of God, had 
“come to years,” sought Jesus and addressed this 
salutation to Jesus: “Rabbi, we know that thou art 


According to Scripture 


53 


a teacher come from God.” I pass by the criti¬ 
cisms that have been made against Nicodemus for 
coming at night, and will rejoice because of the 
truth-lesson emphasized in the interview. 

What Nicodemus was in life and character and 
being did not fit him for the kingdom of God, mag¬ 
nifies the gospel slogan, “Ye must be born again.” 
That is, begin life all over again if you would live 
in the kingdom of God. 

Nicodemus was a man created, a living soul, who 
must be born again: a Jew, a citizen of God’s 
chosen nation—must be born again; a Pharisee 
noted for religious zeal, must be born again; a 
man of prayer, must be born again; a teacher ot 
the Holy Scriptures, must be born again; a payer 
of tithes even of mint, anise and cummin, must be 
horn again; a member of the Sanhedrin, the gov¬ 
erning bodv of both the civil and religious regu¬ 
lations of the nation, must be born again; and with 
all a son of Abraham, God’s faithful friend, “must 
be born again.” 

These characteristics, honorable among men, 
cast aside as unworthy qualifications for member¬ 
ship in the heavenly kingdom, leads us to look for 
and realize a soul possession of peace and joy 
as a child of God, that earth cannot give. The son- 
ship is not a mere profession but an experience 
of vital and spiritual capacities unknown before 
“a right royal gift”—the giver of which must be 
divine. The teacher replied, “Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot 
see the kingdom of God.” 

Nicodemus must have looked at his Teacher 
with confused expression, as much as to say, “Am 
I disappointed in the wisdom of this doer of mir- 


54 


According to Scripture 


acles, that a man must begin life over, or does he 
mean what he says?” 

Or, “Should a man of my standing be required 
to turn away from the achieved advantages already 
attained in life and enter a new realm of being?” 

To this confused learner the Great Teacher an¬ 
swered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a 
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he 
cannot enter into the kingdom of God; that which 
is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born 
of the Spirit is spirit; marvel not that I say 
unto thee, Ye must be born again.” 

Two births are here spoken of—the birth of 
the flesh which brings one into the realm of time 
and sense, the other which is of the Spirit by 
which birth one enters into the kingdom of God. 

Discussing the two births, Paul says, “Howbe- 
it that was not first which is spiritual, but that 
which is natural; and afterward that which is 
spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; 
the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor¬ 
inthians 15: 46-48). 

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and 
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” “Ye 
must be born again” (John 3: 6, 7). 

The first birth which is natural is the birth of 
the flesh, which brings the creature-body into the 
realm of life, “a living soul,” as was the “first 
Adam.” 

If “born of water” is baptism, the baptized body 
of flesh, that is the natural body is inducted into 
the spiritual kingdom being baptized; or if “bom 
of water” (baptism) “and of the Spirit” combine 
into one birth there is presented the anomalous 
child of the two Adams, flesh and spirit, part 
spirit and part flesh. We are distinctly told that 


According to Scripture 


55 


the flesh, meaning the natural man, is not subject 
to the law of Go^ neither can be. Such are de¬ 
fined in Nehemiah 13: 24. 

Christ’s mission was to establish a spiritual 
kingdom and not an animal kingdom. Children 
of the first birth may attain unto great usefulness 
in the world, but he who is not “born again” is 
only an intelligent and highly moral animal at 
best; but “flesh and blood cannot inherit the 
kingdom of God; neither can corruption inherit 
incorruption.” Therefore born of water cannot 
be a part of spiritual birth. 

“How can these things be?” The natural man 
cannot understand; but it is written, “Now we 
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the 
Spirit which is of God; that we might know the 
things that are freely given to us of God.” 

“For God who commanded the light to shine 
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give 
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 
in the face of Jesus Christ.” 

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, 
that the excellency (inexpressible power) may 
be of God, and not of us.” 

“Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst 
again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I 
shall give him shall never thirst; but the water 
that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water 
springing up into everlasting life.” 

The Teacher continued saying, “The wind blow- 
eth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound 
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and 
whither it goeth; so is every one that is bom of 
the Spirit.” Nicodemus, a master in Israel, failed 
to grasp the meaning of this statement, and after 


56 


According to Scripture 


a gentle reproof, Jesus illustrated his meaning by 
the familiar story of the “brazen serpent.” “As 
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even 
so must the Son of man be lifted up; that who¬ 
soever believeth in him should not perish but have 
eternal life.” Following are favorite texts: John 
3: 16—18: 36 and 5: 24. Believe and live. 

In John 3:11, the Savior tells of things that are 
seen and known, including the miracles he per¬ 
formed at Jerusalem (John 2: 23) previous to this 
interview with Nicodemus (read the second and 
third chapter connectedly), showing that the Spirit 
though mysterious both in his coming and going 
is known by the Son of man who came down from 
heaven. 

As the sound of the wind is heard and its blow¬ 
ing is manifested, so a man hears, becomes con¬ 
scious of the breathing of the Spirit on his spirit, 
and believes on him, “the Son of man which is in 
heaven.” So is every one that is born of the 
Spirit. 

As we do not know how immortality came unto 
the child, nor how its bones grew into manhood, 
neither can we tell the ways of the Spirit who 
doeth all things (Ecclesiastes 11: 5.) 

But we know that life and immortality have 
come to the child and we see it growing into full 
manhood. We see the effects of the spiritual birth. 
“He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his 
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought 
in God.” In regeneration a great change is wrought. 
The converted man thinks, reasons, remembers, 
imagines, as he views his surroundings; this he 
did before conversion. 

A converted man in heart feels, desires, hates, 
loves, as he considers the temptations that meet 


According to Scripture 


57 


him; these the natural man does. His heart has 
been changed from the love of the world to the 
love of God and his teachings. 

“He is a new creature in Christ Jesus his Lord.” 

The following story from Dr. J. B. Gambrell’s 
pen is significant: 

He visited a home in the Mississippi Delta, pre¬ 
sided over by a gentleman of culture and refine¬ 
ment though not a Christian. 

His wife was a most excellent member of a 
nearby Baptist church, exhibiting the virtues of 
the Christ life, a benediction to the community. 

Dr. Gambrell said to the husband, “Colonel, 
how is it that you are not a Christian, having such 
a beautiful example in the person of your help¬ 
meet?” 

The colonel replied, “Why, Dr. Gambrell, I 
work mules and free negroes on the farm and could 
not live a Christian life.” 

Two years later Dr. Gambrell visited the same 
farm and found the colonel an humble, earnest 
Christian man serving the Master along with his 
“helpmeet.” 

The doctor asked, “Colonel, do you work mules 
and free negroes on your farm yet?” 

The colonel, remembering his former excuse, re¬ 
plied, “Brother Gambrell, I do. When I was con¬ 
verted every mule and negro on the plantation 
were converted, too.” 

The colonel had the “new life.” 

“Behold all things have become new.” 

The body is not spiritualized by baptism, neither 
is that which is bom of the Spirit carnified, 
changed to the flesh-like nature. 

The body of the believer becomes the 
temple of the Spirit, but is not for that reason 


58 


According to Scripture 


made a child of God. The cross reminds the be¬ 
liever of the sacrificial Christ suffering for sinful 
man, with no thought of virtue being in the wooden 
cross. 

Quite a different conception prevails where men 
kneel before the Crucifix, which is held by the de¬ 
votees, not as an emblem, but a cross bearing a 
body crucified, both body and cross forming the 
object of worship, the Crucifix. 

Association combined the two making “holy 
cross” that imparts heavenly virtues. 

Making baptism in water essential to salvation 
is to make the baptistry a holy matrix to impart 
divine nature. 

This view of the cross and of baptism led to 
impart virtue “to the rosary” and “holy water.” 
“Venus drowned in Bacchus.” 

Baptism drowned in ritualism, and religion be¬ 
comes SACERDOTALISM! 

“Born of water .” The exit out of water, as 
when one is baptized, does not necessitate a birth. 
A universal law is that off-spring is of the nature 
of its parents, every thing after its kind. “What is 
born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is bom 
of the Spirit is spirit.” I see a company making 
exit out of a railroad coach. The company is not 
a railroad train because of exit from the coach. 

Paul speaks of Abraham’s two wives. In alle¬ 
gory they answer to the Jerusalem on earth, and 
to the Jerusalem which is above. The latter is the 
mother of all God’s children. This is saying, “Ye 
must be born from above.” The children of the 
bond woman, like the children of the first Adam 
were earthy. Those of the free woman were spir¬ 
itual, like those of the second Adam. If there 
could be children born of two mothers, or spirit- 


According to Scripture 


59 


ual children bom of “grace and works,” the same 
would be as of Ashdod (Nehemiah 13: 24), whose 
children could not speak the language of either 
parent. Children of God are not bom of works 
and grace combined (Romans 11: 6). 

Jesus does not teach a confused genealogy. He 
recognized a distinct genearch, or head of fam¬ 
ilies, children of God, and children of the Devil. 
(John 8: 38). “I speak that which I have seen 
with my Father, and ye do that which ye have seen 
with your father, (v. 41) Ye are of your father, 
the devil.” 

Ye were born into the realm of the flesh, of the 
first Adam, and like him became “a living soul;” 
so one must be born into the realm of the Spirit 
to be a child of God. 

The nature of the parent is retained in the 
child. Paul speaks of this dual nature in Romans 
7: 18-25, “For I know that in me, that is in my 
flesh, dwelleth no good thing. . . . For I de¬ 
light in the law of God after the inward man: but 
I see another law in my members, warring against 
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivi¬ 
ty to the law of sin which is in my members. 0 
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death? ... So then 
with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but 
with the flesh the law of sin.” “Now if I do that 
I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that 
dwelleth in me.” 

Paul does not mean that he is a living rascal, 
but that his body retains sin against the will of 
his renewed mind. Sin remains the habitant of the 
body. The body and spirit are not congenial but 
wage a perpetual warfare against each other. 


60 


According to Scripture 


An armistice may be won, but antagonism re¬ 
mains, and will till the resurrection day shall 
witness that, “that which was sown a natural body 
is raised a spiritual body.” 

This is not Antinomianism, for where there is 
warring and bringing into captivity, there can be 
freedom of will to choose. “In divine as well as 
human truths there are certain Antimonies irrec¬ 
oncilable by the mere understanding.” We must 
believe, though we are unable to explain. “With¬ 
out controversy great is the mystery of godli¬ 
ness; God manifest in the flesh.” 

Two different bodies may be grafted together as 
the quince and the pear, but they will not hybri¬ 
dize. 

Hear the beautiful story of “The Briar That 
Blossomed.” 

A briar growing in a ditch was taken by a 
gardener to be planted in a bed with roses. The 
briar said to itself, “What is he doing this for? 
I am only an old worthless briar. What a mistake 
to plant me among these beautiful flowers!” 

The gardener came one day with a sharp knife 
and made a slit in the briar and budded it with 
a rose. By and by beautiful roses were blooming 
on that old briar. This excited boasting in the 
briar. Then the gardener said to the “old briar,” 
“Your beauty is not due to what came out of you, 
but to that which I put into you.” So with the 
saved by grace. “Lest any man should boast.” 

The parable of the sower illustrates the exten¬ 
sion of the Kingdom. The three agencies em¬ 
ployed: sower, the seeds, and the soil. The soil 
is the hearts of men. The seed is the word of God. 
The sower is the Savior or any scatterer of the 
seeds. 


According to Scripture 


61 


The kingdom is not spontaneous but reflective, 
therefore, men are admonished to “take heed how 
ye hear.” The duty that men refuse to do, at 
length they become incapable to do. 

THE COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL 
TO ALL THE WORLD, READS: 

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bap¬ 
tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to ob¬ 
serve all things whatsoever I have commanded 
you.” “Teach all nations”: that is “evangelize,” 
next “baptize,” then “teaching” or schooling the 
baptized “to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you.” 

It is observable that the words “teach” and 
“teaching” occur in this commission. They are 
from different Greek words, and do not give the 
same significance. To “teach” is to evangelize, to 
instruct in the gospel, to convert from a state of 
condemnation to a state of salvation. Following 
is the baptism of the evangelized. Following this 
is the “teaching” to observe all things whatsoever 
I have commanded. To obey this latter injunc¬ 
tion membership in an organization would be in 
keeping, to teach as a class or singly as in school. 
The sum of the commission is to evangelize, bap¬ 
tize, organize and schoolize or teach the baptized 
to observe the things commanded, and “Lo I am 
with you alway, unto the end of the world. 
Amen.” John the Baptist evangelized, saying, “The 
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at 
hand: repent ye and believe the gospel” (Mark 
1: 15). “When he saw many come to his bap¬ 
tism, he said unto them, 0 generation of vipers, 
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to 


62 


According to Scripture 


come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for re¬ 
pentance (Matthew 3: 7). “John verily baptized 
with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the 
people, that they should believe on him which 
should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” 
(Acts 19: 4). 

Faith is a fruit of repentance. When the peo¬ 
ple were flocking to be baptized, John demanded 
that they “bring fruits meet for repentance.” 
“John verily baptized with the baptism of repent¬ 
ance, saying unto the people, that they should be¬ 
lieve on him which should come after him, that is. 
on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19: 4). 

John’s message was “repent and believe the 
gospel.” Men may reverse the order, quoting as 
authority, “Without faith it is impossible to please 
God.” “He that cometh to God must believe that 
he is and that he rewardeth them that diligently 
seek him” (Hebrews 11:1). All who believed 
this did not seek God, “Because that, when they 
knew God, they glorified him not as God” (Rom¬ 
ans 1: 21). “Thou believest that there is one 
God; thou doest well; the devils also believe and 
tremble.” But devils do not repent, thereby con¬ 
fessing their sins. Christ, the greatest of theol¬ 
ogians, said, “For John came unto you in the way 
of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but 
the publicans and harlots believed him: and ye, 
when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that 
ye might believe him” (Matthew 21: 32). The 
conclusion is that an impenitent soul is neither 
willing nor able to accept Christ as Lord and 
Savior. Some preparatory virtue must be efficacious 
that the grace of salvation may be effective. So, “Let 
the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous 
man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, 


According to Scripture 


63 


and he will have mercy upon him: and to our 
God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55: 
4). This is repentance: a sinner turning to God 
for mercy and salvation, “for godly sorrow work- 
eth repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” 
Its office is performed and faith the divine casket 
of heavenly truths, the crown jewel of the setting 
being grace, “For by grace are ye saved through 
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift 
of God.” The blessing of salvation is a gracious 
gift through faith and not through works of human 
performance unless faith is classed as such a work. 
Jesus classed faith as a work saying, “This is the 
work of God, that ye believe on him whom he 
hath sent” (John 6: 29). 

Faith is not an independent work of man, “For 
unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not 
only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his 
sake” (Philippians 1: 29). As suffering for 
Christ’s sake is not independent of Christ, so be¬ 
lief in him is not an independent work on the part 
of man. Faith then is distinct from the works 
meant in the text, “Not of works, lest any man 
should boast,” which works are contrasted with 
faith, “For we are his workmanship, created in 
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be¬ 
fore ordained that we should walk in them.” 

The plan of salvation is clear and conclusively 
given in (Ephesians 2:8-10) which is here given. 
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and 
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not 
of works, lest any man should boast. For we are 
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto 
good works, which God hath before ordained that 
we .should walk in them.” 


64 


According to Scripture 


Salvation by grace and the medium through 
which it reaches man is God’s gift. Spiritual life, 
a new creature in Christ Jesus, Christ formed in 
you the hope of glory, each meaning the same, is 
unmistakably the work of God, “For we are his 
workmanship created in Christ Jesus.” 

The design of this “new creature” is that man 
may be holy, and inclined to good works. The 
life being imparted and the works ordained by 
the gracious heavenly Father glorify him. Good 
works are what the Scriptures require and are 
obeyed with proper motive. Good works can not 
produce motives, as effect can not produce causes. 
“Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; 
prove yourselves how that Christ is in you, except 
ye be reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13: 5, 6). 

To examine myself I must turn my eyes within. 
If I am “in the faith” Christ is in me. I can not 
know by outward acts, for hypocrites can do these. 
I must have evidences that a hypocrite can not imi¬ 
tate. 

“The Spirit himself beareth witness with our 
spirit, that we are the children of God”: “For as 
many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the 
sons of God.” 

How may I know that I am led by the Spirit of 
God? Answer: “No man can say that Jesus is the 
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12: 
3). “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the 
Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” 
(1 John 4: 15). 

To make this confession reverently, to say that 
Jesus is Lord devoutly and loyally is a conscious 
experience that enables one to say that “God 
dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 


According to Scripture 


65 


Again: “Know by this that ye have passed from 
death unto life, because you love the brethren.” 
Inward testimony decides the state. As this is 
God-given, a hypocrite cannot assume it. 

If saved by or for obedience, obedience must be 
perfect, or if one does the best he can and relies 
on God to forgive or make up for his shortcom¬ 
ings, is to acknowledge that God saves because of 
the good intention, or on account of his forgiving 
mercy. 

The beginning of the gospel to the Gentiles at 
the house of Cornelius is given a paradigm of an 
unsaved man being saved. The angel informed 
Cornelius that when Peter came, “he shall tell thee 
words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be 
saved.” Cornelius was at prayer though unsaved, 
and was given the assurance that his “prayer is 
heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in 
the sight of God.” The example teaches that a 
devout, God-fearing man offers acceptable prayers, 
and that his alms are had in remembrance, “For 
if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted ac¬ 
cording to that a man hath.” 

Cornelius had “seeking faith,” “For he that 
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that 
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 
The words of Peter were a summary of the evi¬ 
dences that Jesus is the Christ, the climax being the 
resurrection of Jesus from the dead. “To him 
gave all the prophets witness, that through his 
name whosoever believeth in him shall receive re¬ 
mission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, 
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the 
word.” This was conclusive to Peter and those 
accompanying him that these were accepted “be¬ 
cause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the 


66 


According to Scripture 


gift of the Holy Ghost.” These are now ready 
for baptism, “they magnify God” shouting his 
praises, “Can any man forbid water, that these 
should not be baptized, which have received the 
Holy Ghost as well as we?” 

None say “nay.” “But according to the meas¬ 
ure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, 
a measure to reach even unto you” (2 Corinthians 
10: 13). “And he commanded them to* be bap¬ 
tized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10: 48). 

“Then they that gladly received the word were 
baptized: and the same day there were added unto 
them (‘the church’) about three thousands souls” 
(Acts 2: 41). 

A parallel case showing that salvation precedes 
baptism is that of the Israelites being baptized 
unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They had 
been exhorted by word and wonders to prepare to 
leave Egypt to go to a country of their own. They 
consented. One more plague to make Pharaoh 
willing. The first-born of every Egyptian will be 
slain. The death angel will pass over the houses 
of the Israelites that are marked by the blood of 
the passover lamb. The lamb was slain. The 
blood was sprinkled as commanded. The death 
angel passed over. All safe “behind the blood.” 
They leave Egypt. Pharaoh pursues. The Lord 
puts a cloud between his people and Pharaoh. 
“Moreover, brethren, I would not have you ig¬ 
norant, how that all our fathers were under the 
cloud, and all passed through the sea: and were 
all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the 
sea.” 

Moses and his people, like Cornelius and his 
house, were safe unto God before baptism. The 
Israelites had seen the “open way” and entered 


According to Scripture 


67 


believing in Moses their leader. “By faith they 
passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which 
the Egyptians essaying to do were drowned” (He¬ 
brews 11: 29). This was presumption: that was 
faith. The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the 
counsel of God, not submitting to John’s baptism. 
He, John, filled his place in the divine appointment, 
and to subvert or substitute it would be to invite the 
tragedy of rejecting God’s counsel. 

CHRIST MADE AND BAPTIZED DISCIPLES 

Some time after the interview between Christ 
and Nicodemus in Jerusalem, “Jesus came with his 
disciples into the land of Judea and there he tar¬ 
ried and baptized (though Jesus baptized not but 
his disciples), and John also was baptizing in Enon 
near to Salem because there was much water there.” 
Jesus and his disciples tarried for baptism was not 
speedily dispatched as though it was necessary to 
salvation. Neither would a little water from a 
bottle which would suffice for sprinkling answer 
the purpose of baptism, hence they journey to 
“Enon near to Salem because there was much water 
there: and they came and were baptized.” If all 
the spiritual who rantize (sprinkle) for baptism 
would follow Christ and baptize instead of follow¬ 
ing Rome in sprinkling, infant baptism and Cath¬ 
olicism would retire for lack of support. 

THE PROGRAM AT PENTECOST 

Read the second chapter of Acts, and render this 
program to edification and not to confusion. 

The day had come when the gospel was no 
longer to be confined to “the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel,” but to start on its world-wide and 


68 


According to Scripture 


and age-long mission to every creature in all 
the world. 

The coming of the Holy Spirit confirmed all the 
Savior had claimed. About one hundred and twen¬ 
ty witnesses were filled with the Holy Spirit, speak¬ 
ing with cloven tongues. 

Peter was the leading spokesman. The people 
were cut to the heart and cried out, “Men and 
brethren, what shall we do?” 

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be 
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall re¬ 
ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise 
is unto you and your children, and to all that are 
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God 
shall call. And with many other words did he 
testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from 
this untoward generation” (Acts 2:37-40). 

“Then they that gladly received his words were 
baptized: and the same day there were added unto 
them about three thousand souls.” Luke, the his¬ 
torian, gives only an epitome of Peter’s sermon as 
is evident from his saying “with many other words 
did he testify and exhort.” 

The people were made to believe that they had 
sinned against a holy and just God, and asked 
“what shall we do?” 

They were commanded to repent. 

What is the place and office or repentance in 
the plan of salvation? Answer: Where repentance 
and faith are mentioned together, repentance is 
placed first. “Repent and believe the gospel.” 
“Ye would not repent that ye might afterward be¬ 
lieve” (Matthew 2: 32). 

Why thus placed? Because an impenitent man 
is both unable and unwilling to believe in the 


According to Scripture 


69 


Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith respect 
different objects and one must be before the other. 
There cannot be a trusting faith in Christ without 
repentance of sin. 

“Ye would not repent that ye might afterwards 
believe.” 

THE OFFICE OF REPENTANCE. It is 
wrought by Godly sorrow. “For godly sorrow 
worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented 
of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” 
(2 Corinthians 7: 10). 

The eleventh verse defines it specially in its holy 
work. 

“Repentance toward God and faith toward Lord 
Jesus Christ.” 

“Peter told the people to repent and be bap¬ 
tized for the remission of sins. They were filled 
with godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto 
salvation. That they repented is not questioned. 
Peter continued to exhort with many other words. 
After it is stated that as many as received the 
words gladly were baptized. Save yourselves from 
this perverse generation—meaning ye have con¬ 
fessed your sins and also believed in the crucified, 
buried and risen Christ, be baptized that this per¬ 
verse people will see that by your baptism, ye show 
your faith by your work.” Thus “faith that works 
by love and purifies the heart,” wrought this great 
change. After baptism they were added to the 
church, which is the orthodox custom. 

The faith that follows repentance trusts Christ 
for forgiveness of sins believing all that he taught. 
This faith being a living faith shows itself by 
works. 


70 


According to Scripture 


“YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE 
HOLY GHOST” 

This is the Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, 
“Which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will 
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, 
and bring all things to your remembrance, what¬ 
soever I have said unto you.” 

“It is expedient for you that I go away: for if 
I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto 
you; but if I depart I will send him unto you.” 
(Read also John 16: 8-14.) 

Speaking after the manner of men, Christ and the 
Holy Spirit exchanged places: Christ gone to 
heaven to intercede, the Spirit come to earth to wit¬ 
ness for Christ and to guide the disciples as Christ 
had promised. 

On the day of Pentecost the Spirit gave full at¬ 
testation that Jesus had fulfilled his promises to 
his disciples. 

This spiritual baptism was given to the disciples 
after their baptism in water, for they were wit¬ 
nesses from John’s baptism. 

In the house of Cornelius the Holy Spirit fell on 
the unbaptized. “As I began to speak, the Holy 
Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” 
(“Beginning” of the gospel to all nations and not 
the beginning of the gospel church.) “And they of 
the circumcision which believed ... as many as 
came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also 
was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For 
they heard them speak with tongues and magnify 
God.” 

The likeness of these meetings was manifested 
also in the converts at Jerusalem, for they that 
gladly received the words were baptized. At 
Caesarea the converts “magnified God,” and were 


According to Scripture 


71 


baptized. Both schools of converts “Being justi¬ 
fied by faith, had peace with God through our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and rejoiced in hope of the glory of 
God . . . because the love of God was shed abroad 
in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which was given 
unto them.” “The Kingdom of God is righteousness, 
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Where this 
experience is suppressed formality begins. 

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL 

In the fourth chapter of John, the Savior taught 
the woman of Samaria the omnipresence of God 
who is Spirit and that he is accessible anywhere 
and everywhere to any who worship in spirit and 
in truth. Jerusalem could not hold him, the moun¬ 
tain could not retain him, and he failed to an¬ 
nounce that he could be found only in the bap¬ 
tistry, however closely connected the ordinance to 
the sufferings of the Son in death and the glory 
of his resurrection. If baptism is essential to 
salvation, why not tell that “in the baptistry alone 
can God be found.” 

“YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE 
HOLY GHOST” 

“And when the day of Pentecost had fully come 
they (ones mentioned in above chapter) were all 
filled with the Holy Ghost, which ‘ye now see and 
hear’.” 

This confirmed the mission of Christ to the peo¬ 
ple and encouraged the disciples. Christ had said, 
“It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I 
go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; 
but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And 
when he is come, he will reprove the world of 
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of 


72 


According to Scripture 


sin, because they believe not on me; of righteous¬ 
ness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no 
more; Of judgment, because the prince of this 
world is judged. I have yet many things to say 
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbe- 
it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will 
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak 
of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that 
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to 
come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive 
of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things 
that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that 
he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” 

This cannot mean that the Spirit had not been 
and was not in the world. He was present in Crea¬ 
tion, he strove with men before the flood, David 
cried, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me,” he wit¬ 
nessed at Christ’s baptism, Jesus was led of the 
Spirit to be tempted, by this Spirit he cast out 
devils, of this Spirit Jesus said, “Even the Spirit 
of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because 
it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye 
know him; for he dwelleth with you.” After the 
resurrection Jesus breathed on the present disciples 
and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” and until 
the day in which Jesus was taken up, after that 
he through the Holy Ghost had given command¬ 
ments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. 
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same 
Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12: 4). 

Thus the divine unity of Father, Son and Holv 
Ghost gave the miracles and teachings of Jesus 
the gospel of salvation, the amen of the adorable 
Trinity. Rules and examples established by rec¬ 
ognized authority, as is the gospel, we are called 
to believe. This gospel was the textbook of the 


According to Scripture 


73 


Holy Spirit in teaching what Christ had, taught 
and whatsoever would be revealed according to it. 

The disciples returned from “the mount called 
Olive” after the ascension of Jesus, to Jerusalem, 
being the same whom he chose to be with him in 
his mission “of regeneration.” These all con¬ 
tinued with one accord in prayer and supplication, 
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and 
with his brethren, “which they could not have 
done without the Spirit.” They also fulfilled the 
prophecy written in the book of Psalms, to select 
a successor to Judas, who “was numbered with the 
eleven apostles.” 

On the day of Pentecost a visible and audible 
manifestation was given of the Spirit. And though 
he remains with his people he is not seen or heard, 
neither does he work miracles as in the days of the 
Apostles, but his presence is realized by every 
spiritual worshiper. “God is a Spirit and seeketh 
them to worship him, who worship in spirit and in 
truth.” 

He reveals truth and will not deny his revela¬ 
tion, nor “side step,” to accommodate any man’s 
conscience, however sincere. God gave his truth 
in all good conscience, which he will honor above 
man’s conscience. Baptism is “not the putting away 
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good con¬ 
science toward God.” Baptism does not procure 
the “good conscience.” 

INFANT BAPTISM 

It is a beautiful service to dedicate a child to 
the heavenly Father who hath given to it life and 
immortality. The Savior put his hands on little 
children and blessed them. To do more would 
be to do the unauthorized; for instance, where 


74 


According to Scripture 


children are mentioned nothing is said about bap¬ 
tism; and when baptism is mentioned nothing is 
said about children. The Bible is no authority 
for infant baptism. 

I was invited to preach a sermon answering the 
two questions, Who should be baptized? and 
what is baptism? I answered the first, saying, 
“None but regenerated persons.” To give empha¬ 
sis I remarked that the Bible is as silent as the 
grave concerning infant baptism. 

Second, nothing but immersion in water is 
taught in the Bible for water baptism. 

The discourse was correctly reported to a Cath¬ 
olic priest, who replied in the afternoon in the 
same room where I had spoken, after consecrating 
the room , as follows: “In the early days of gospel 
churches a suitable baptistry for the immersion of 
believers was provided. It might have been a 
river, a lake, a creek, a pond, or a box holding 
water sufficient for immersion, for immersion only 
was authorized by baptism. 

“You ask, ‘Why does the Holy Catholic Church 
now sprinkle rather than immerse?’ 

“It is because Christ granted authority to the 
holy Saint Peter to loose and bind, for heaven 
would ratify his loosing or binding. This same 
authority Peter gave to the Holy Catholic Church. 
The Church loosed immersion and in its stead 
bound sprinkling for baptism, also binding in¬ 
fant baptism. 

“A child or an adult dying unbaptized is lost.” 

With many words did the priest exhort the peo¬ 
ple to obey the Holy Roman Catholic Church and 
be saved. “Which is according to Scripture?” 


According to Scripture 


75 


Many members of pedo-Baptist churches have 
been immersed by good meaning men and are sat¬ 
isfied. But why? 

Immersion is not all of baptism, neither is every 
good man a proper administrator of the sacred or¬ 
dinance. The act of baptism on the part of the 
baptizer is an expression of his faith in the 
Great Commission, to teach, to evangelize, to bap¬ 
tize. In baptism the baptized shows faith in the 
same Commission. To guard against sin in this 
and in every other duty it is written: “Whatsoever 
is not of faith is sin.” Nothing commanded to 
be done as complimentary. 

Paul met at Ephesus certain disciples who had 
been irregularly baptized, whom he rebaptized 
(Acts 19: 1-5). 

These disciples had been baptized “Unto John’s 
baptism,” but had not heard of the coming of the 
Holy Spirit, who is another Comforter and giving 
attestation to all that Christ had done and prom¬ 
ised. While the bridegroom was with the bride 
the coming of this Comforter was delayed. John 
had seen and could say, “He that hath the bride 
is the bridegroom; this my joy therefore is ful¬ 
filled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” 
John had baptized many, including the apostles 
who must witness, “Beginning from the baptism of 
John, unto that same day that he (Jesus) was 
taken up from us must one be ordained to be a 
witness with us of his resurrection” (Acts 1: 
15-24). John’s baptism could not extend further 
than his commission. He sent out no evangelist, 
for he must decrease. Paul baptized these dis¬ 
ciples again, thus honoring his Lord who must 
“increase.” A Scriptural Administrator, a Scrip¬ 
tural Subject, a Scriptural Act, according to Scrip- 


76 


According to Scripture 


ture, are essential in Scriptural baptism. Such is 
“an answer of a good conscience toward God.” 
If either is without Scriptural qualification the 
whole is imperfect. If any may baptize, why or¬ 
dain any one to baptize? 

Who is responsible for mistakes? “Search the 
Scriptures daily, whether those things are so.” 

WHO WERE THE FIRST MEMBERS OF A 
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, AND BY 
WHOM WAS IT INSTITUTED? 

John the Baptist was a child of prophecy, “and 
many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the 
Lord their God.” 

At his birth his father, Zacharias, was filled with 
the Holy Ghost saying, “thou child shalt be called 
the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go be¬ 
fore the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to 
give knowledge of salvation unto his people by 
the remission of their sins . . . and the child 
grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the 
desert till the day of shewing unto Israel” (Luke 
1: 76-80). 

“In those days came John the Baptist . . . say¬ 
ing, Repent ye: for the kingdom is at hand. . . . 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths 
straight” (Matthew 3: 1-3). 

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the 
Son of God; as it is written in the prophets, Be¬ 
hold, I send my messenger before thy face, which 
shall prepare thy way before thee” (Mark 1: 1-3). 
“And there went out unto him all the land of 
Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all bap¬ 
tized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing 
their sins” (Mark 1:5). 


According to Scripture 


77 


The New Testament Church is not a continua¬ 
tion of any Jewish organization, yet it was a sub¬ 
ject of prophecy both by word and symbolisms. 

The constituent members must be witnesses all 
the way beginning from the baptism of John unto 
that same day that Jesus was taken up from us 
(Acts 1: 21, 22). 

From these disciples Christ chose twelve whom 
he ordained apostles. These after their ordina¬ 
tion bore a different relationship to Christ than 
others of the multitude of disciples. 

“And it came to pass in those days, that he 
went out in a mountain to pray, and continued all 
night in prayer to God. And when it was day he 
called his disciples unto him, and of them he 
chose twelve, whom he also named apostles” (Luke 
6 : 12 ). 

Follows the names of the twelve who composed 
the first church. Unto this company Jesus gave 
the ordinance of the Supper, after which he teaches 
that his kingdom is not to be sought for the be- 
stowment of honors, but for service benefiting 
others. Recognizing their companionship, expres¬ 
sive of his appreciation he said, “These are they 
which have continued with me in my temptations 
and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father 
hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and 
drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on 
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 
22: 28). Soon after this he was tried before Pilate. 
He was condemned. He was crucified. His body 
buried. He arose from the grave. On the morn¬ 
ing of the third day, women of Galilee came unto 
the sepulchre bringing spices, found the stone 
rolled away, and they beheld an empty grave, 
and they returned “and told all these things unto 


78 


According to Scripture 


the eleven, and to all the rest.” After he revealed 
himself to the two on the way to Emmaus, they 
returned to Jerusalem and found the “eleven” 
gathered together. Judas Iscariot had gone to his 
own place, is why only eleven. Christ Jesus their 
Lord renewed their faith, and enabled them to say, 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy 
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the 
resurrection from the dead.” “And that repent¬ 
ance and remission of sins should be preached in 
his name among all nations, beginning at Jeru¬ 
salem.” “And ye are witnesses of these things” 
(Luke 24: 47, 48). 

“After that he through the Holy Ghost had given 
commandments unto the apostles whom he had 
chosen . . . and, being assembled together with 
them, commanded them that thev should not de- 
part from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of 
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me” 
(Acts 1:4). 

The “eleven” mentioned in verse 13 returned 
from the ascension of Jesus to Jerusalem, and “All 
continued in prayer and supplication, with the 
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with 
his brethren” (verse 15). The Psalms had writ¬ 
ten concerning Judas, “Let his habitation be deso¬ 
late, and and his bishopric let another take. After 
prayer they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell 
on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven 
apostles” (verse 26). This restores the number 
to “twelve.” On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 14) 
(Peter, standing up with the eleven, “was still one 
of the twelve, as was Matthias after he was num¬ 
bered with the eleven) sixth chapter, second verse, 
reads: “Then the twelve called the multitude of 


According to Scripture 


79 


the disciples unto them . . . look ye out among 
you seven men of honest report” (Acts 6: 2, 3). 
“And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 
twelve” (1 Corinthians 15: 5) shows the validity of 
Matthias’ election. 

The quotations included in parenthesis show 
that Matthias was one of the twelve apostles and 
a member before Pentecost, and that his selection 
by the many is a beautiful exercise by “the King¬ 
dom” promised by Christ to his disciples, also the 
choice of the seven by the multitude (Acts 6: 2-5). 
The laws which regulate this kingdom were in¬ 
spired by the king as “all Scripture is given by in¬ 
spiration of God.” 

Christ’s kingdom is an absolute monarchy. He 
who is crowned “King of all” is Sovereign Ruler. 

In the execution of its provisions for the co-oper¬ 
ation among its members, it is thoroughly demo¬ 
cratic. 

As a kingdom, disciples began arranging and 
working for gospel progress after the ascension of 
Christ. Their first service was a prayer meeting 
in an upper room at Jerusalem. The next the 
choosing of Matthias. Following this is THE DAY 
OF PENTECOST, when they all (about one hun¬ 
dred and twenty) with one accord in one place, 
were filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking and act¬ 
ing in such manner as to call forth the remark 
from Peter “these are not drunken as ye suppose 
. . . but this is that spoken by the prophet Joel.” 
Peter continued his speaking, and when he had 
ended his words, “Then they that gladly received 
his word were baptized: and the same day there 
were added unto them about three thousand souls” 
(Acts 2: 41). Added unto whom? Those men¬ 
tioned in Acts 1: 13, minus Judas, plus Matthias. 


80 


According to Scripture 


Labors continue “and believers were the more 
added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and 
of women” (Acts 5: 14). 

Their manner of procedure was repent, gladly 
receive the word, baptized, added unto them. 

As the Holy Spirit revealed unto the apostles, 
their words are guide unto all future ages. 

Pentecost gave no new ship but anointed and 
dedicated the one Christ gave for all waters and 
for all believers. He had said, “I will build my 
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it” (Matthew 16). 

This he did before going back to the Father. 
In the shedding of his blood he made atonement 
for sin. His resurrection is the attestation of his 
power to preserve his Church from death and 
the grave. The death and burial of the Founder 
of the church is or was the most crucial test that 
can be given for the indestructible church which 
he gave to his disciples. Said Paul in after years: 
“Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all 
sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the 
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the 
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised 
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 
15: 51, 52 and remainder of chapter.) This 
shows the indestructibility and perpetuity of the 
New* Testament Church till the Lord returns. In¬ 
stead of Pentecost being building day of a new 
church, it was more the dedication of one fitly 
framed together for the habitation of God through 
the Spirit. 

When Solomon’s temple was completed and fur¬ 
nished “the glory of the Lord filled the house of 
God.” So when Pentecost had fully come, they 
were all with one accord in one place, and the 


According to Scripture 


81 


heavenly wind filled the house where they were 
sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven 
tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, and 
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began 
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave 
them utterance.” 

Solomon’s temple was built of prepared stones, 
fitted and numbered in the mountains by pre¬ 
scribed rules and carried to one place and built 
together without sound of hammer or axes, and 
after completion was set apart for sacred pur¬ 
poses. 

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spirit¬ 
ual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” 
(1 Peter 2: 5). 

The church is God’s building, “Built upon the 
foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus 
Christ being the chief cornerstone; in whom all 
the building fitly framed together groweth unto a 
holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are 
builded together for an habitation of God through 
the Spirit” (Ephesians 2: 20-22). 

This house of God “is the church of the living 
God, the ground and pillar of the truth” (1 Tim¬ 
othy 3: 15). 

Again: When the Gentiles received the gospel 
at the house of Cornelius, Peter said, giving the 
reason of his association with Gentiles, “As I be¬ 
gan to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on 
us in the beginning.” This, first upon Jewish as at 
Pentecost and then upon the Gentile brethren at 
Caesarea, was given the one Spirit by which we 
are “all baptized into one body, whether Jews or 
Gentiles, whether bond or free, and have all been 
made to drink into one Spirit, for the body is not 


82 


According to Scripture 


one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12: 13, 
14). This baptism of the Holy Ghost was audible 
and visible proof of the divine presence. The fol- 
following attest the same truth. 

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no 
man speaking by the Spirit of God called Jesus 
accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is 
the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” “Now there are 
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Cor¬ 
inthians 12: 3, 4). “For as many as are led by 
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom¬ 
ans 8: 14). 

Will all listen to this appeal? “Examine your¬ 
selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own- 
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that 
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 
(2 Corinthians 13: 5). The Spirit is the witness to 
any who sincerely believe. 

The Holy Spirit now abides in the believers an 
invisible, silent power, they are filled with the 
Spirit, led by the Spirit, the Spirit is sent into their 
hearts whereby they cry Abba, Father. 

Would that all who have named the name of 
Christ knew more fully the contentment and con¬ 
solation which is bestowed by the Spirit. 

“The Spirit, like some heavenly wind, 
Breathes on the sons of flesh, 

Creates anew the carnal mind 
And forms the man afresh.” 

PENTECOST 

This has been called Dedication Day, as on this 
day the church was solemnly set apart for the 
specific purpose “That repentance and remission 
of sins should be preached in his name among all 
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” 


According to Scripture 


83 


When Christ called unto him his twelve dis¬ 
ciples, whom he called also apostles, “These twelve 
Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, 
Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any 
city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather 
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 
10: 5, 6). 

When Christ suffered and rose from the dead 
he verified John 3: 16, saying, “God so loved the 
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who¬ 
soever believeth on him should not perish but 
have eternal life.” 

Pentecost was not a new thought, nor a new 
plan, nor a new organization, but the Church which 
Christ had built and which was launched on the sea 
of time for all ports and countries, henceforth the 
Great Commission given by Christ the Lord, to his 
Church, “Go ye into all the world,” is the chart 
and “log-book” on every sea and marching orders 
over every land. 

Pentecost had fully come. The witnesses “were 
all with one accord in one place.” “And they were 
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak 
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter¬ 
ance.” “And there were devout men, out of every 
nation under heaven.” “They were all amazed, 
and were in doubt, saying, one to another, What 
meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are 
full of new wine.” 

Peter was the spokesman. The people were 
pricked in their heart and cried out, “Men and 
brethren, what shall we do? 

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be bap¬ 
tized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ 
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is 


84 


According to Scripture 


unto you and your children, and to all that are 
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall 
call. And with many other words did he testi¬ 
fy and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this 
untoward generation. Then they that gladly re¬ 
ceived his word were baptized: and the same day 
there were added unto them about three thousand 

souls.” 

Luke, the historian, gives only an epitome of 
Peter’s sermon, as is evident from his saying, “With 
many other words did he testify and exhort.” 

They were pricked in heart, convicted of sin, 
sorrowed before God. They asked, “What shall we 
do?” 

Peter answers, “Repent.” 

IS REPENTING an outward or internal work 
that can be performed independently by the per¬ 
sons commanded? 

If not, how shall they obey, and what virtue in 
obedience? 

The status of repentance as given by Paul is “For 
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not 
to be repented of” (1 Corinthians 7: 10). 

The people convicted in heart of sin against 
God were “made sorry” before God. This is godly 
sorrow which arises from a sense of “the exceeding 
sinfulness of sin” in violating God’s law. Paul 
says, “Sin wrought in me all manner of con¬ 
cupiscence.” What sorrow conscious sin must 
arouse in the heart of the convicted! 

Repentance is both voluntary and involuntary. 
It is wrought by “godly sorrow,” the penitent being 
acted upon, “made sorry.” It is voluntary, “they 
sorrowed to repentance” (2 Corinthians 7: 9). 
The divine making it sincere, the human working 
because of sincerity. Wherefore, “Work out your 


According to Scripture 


85 


own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is 
God which worketh in you both to will and to do 
of his own good pleasure” (Philippians 2: 12, 13). 
“He who hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is 
God, who hath also given unto us the earnest of the 
Spirit” (1 Corinthians 5:5). “Being confident of 
this very thing, that he which hath begun a good 
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus 
Christ” (Philippians 1: 6). These passages show 
the inner working of the Spirit, God working first. 

Isaiah, in an exhortation to seek safety while 
the presence of the Lord is assured, says, “Seek 
ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon 
him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his 
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and 
let him return unto the Lord, and he will have 
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will 
abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55: 6, 7). This ex¬ 
presses the office of repentance bringing the peni¬ 
tent one to the grace of salvation, “For ye are 
saved by grace through faith,” “for he who hath be¬ 
gun a good work in you will perform it.” “This 
is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 
he hath sent” (John 6: 29). “For by grace are ye 
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it 
is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man 
should boast. For we are his workmanship, created 
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath 
before ordained that we should walk in them” 
(Ephesians 2:8-10). The clearness of this state¬ 
ment of the plan of salvation is manifest. The 
saved are the ivorkmanship of God, created in 
Christ Jesus. This new creature is to walk in 
“good works,” the ordination of God. This he 
could not do in an unregenerate state. 


86 


According to Scripture 


The graces we are considering, repentance and 
faith, are closely related to each other, but are 
separate, each having a special assignment in the 
plan of salvation. That a penitent soul believes 
and that a believing soul is penitent is manifest, 
so also it is true, that an impenitent soul can not 
and will not believe from the heart in Christ 
Jesus. The intellectual mind may consent to a 
fact while wishing that the fact was not a fact. 
Willing faith trusts Christ Jesus for all and every 
thing in salvation. This willingness is induced 
by the Holy Spirit. It is written, “No man can 
say that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit.” 

The Savior understood the place and office of 
each grace, and when teaching the chief priest 
and elders of the people said, “For John came 
unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye be¬ 
lieved him not, but the publicans and harlots be¬ 
lieved him: and, ye when ye had seen it repented 
not afterward, that ye might believe him” (Mat¬ 
thew 21: 32). The order is not changed. The 
cry is still heard, “Repent and believe the gospel.” 
In every mention of the two graces together repent¬ 
ance is first, faith next. “Holy men of old wrote 
as they were moved by the Spirit.” Repentance is 
granted (Acts 11: 18). Esau sought it, “and 
found it not.” 

There is a necessary faith which precedes all 
seeking after God, “Because that which may be 
known of God is manifest in them; for God hath 
showed it unto them. For the invisible things of 
him from the creation of the world are clearly 
seen, being understood by the things that are 
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so 
that they are without excuse.” 


According to Scripture 


87 


This faith does not require or forbid repentance 
toward God. Devils confess it and scorn God. 
Men may confess it and seek after God. God says 
to such, “This is my beloved Son, hear ye him. 
The Son says, “That whosoever believeth in him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 
3 : 16 ). 

The truth it represents is the burial and resur¬ 
rection of Christ. A text illustrative of the differ¬ 
ence between the figure and the real is, “The holy 
places made with hands, which are the figures of 
the true.” Baptism is a holy work done with 
hands, which is a figure of the true burial and res¬ 
urrection of Christ. 

I offer a one dollar bill to pay for a purchase. 
It represents a dollar’s worth of gold stored in a 
vault. 

The bill is current, it pays debts to the amount 
marked on its face. That is true. But that it is 
money is not truth. 

The kernel in the seed is life. Not the shell. 
The Jews misjudged the shell of ceremony and lost 
the truths of the figures. The truth exemplified 
by “the brazen serpent” was lost, and adoration 
for the bit of brass satisfied the mind of the 
worshiper. The creature rather than the Creator 
was thereby worshiped. The true worship of God 
is life. Ceremony in form may be of godliness; 
often no more than the form, denying the power 
thereof. 

The Baptist evangelist, Major Penn, was holding 
a tent meeting in Western Texas which was well 
attended by the cowboys. The ranchman objected 
and requested the evangelist to discourage his 
men’s attendance on the meetings. 


88 


According to Scripture 


Major Penn replied, “It is my duty to hold the 
meetings and encourage attendance by all and not 
to discourage any.” 

In the conversation, the ranchman was led to 
say, “Your gospel is a myth for it exhorts its de¬ 
votees to show their faith by their works and it 
gives no work to show faith in the resurrection, 
which would be unmistakable evidence of the di¬ 
vinity of the gospel if true.” 

Without controverting the doctrine of the resur¬ 
rection, Major Penn invited the ranchman to be 
present at a certain time and he would show faith 
by works, in the resurrection. 

At the appointed time the ranchman was present 
and the evangelist proceeded to immerse a num¬ 
ber of converts, saying as he stood by the side of 
the one wishing baptism, “Because thou hast pro¬ 
fessed faith in the death, burial, and resurrection 
of Jesus Christ, the Lord, and in obedience to his 
command I bury thee, my brother, in baptism in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost: Amen.” Burying the candidate and 
raising him up. 

This showing of faith in the resurrection by this 
act of obedience convicted this ungodly man of 
his sins, who turned from them (repented), be¬ 
lieved in the Lord Christ, and was baptized. “Ye 
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and 
in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter¬ 
most part of the earth.” How happy is the wit¬ 
ness that testifies to the whole truth, to nothing 
but the truth, before God or man! Baptism is a 
burial—not a birth! 

To change the symbolical uses of the ordinances 
from being declarative to be procurative of the 
salvation proclaimed is a prodigious step down- 


According to Scripture 


89 


ward. It is to put the virtue in the figure rather 

than in the prefigure and, instead of the symbol 

being an aid to devotion, devotion is given to the 

svmbol. 

* 


“This makes his truth too broad 
By limits beyond his word, 

And we minify his teaching. 

With a zeal he will not own.” 

NOAH AND EIGHT SOULS SAVED BY WATER 

Noah was one of the worthies mentioned in the 
eleventh chapter of Hebrews who “obtained a good 
report through faith.” His faith produced, or led 
to, external works of obedience. 

“Noah, moved with fear, prepared an ark to 
the saving of his house.” The Bible record of 
Noah is that “Noah was a just man and perfect in 
his generation, and Noah walked with God.” 

God had determined to destroy man from the 
earth, save Noah and his family. He gave Noah 
instructions to build an ark for the saving of these 
and two of every living thing of all flesh. 

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” 
“And Noah did according to all that God com¬ 
manded him, so did he.” “By faith Noah, being 
warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved 
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his 
house; by the which he condemned the world, and 
became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” 
“Come thou and all thy house into the ark: for 
thee have I seen righteous before me in this gen¬ 
eration.” “And the Lord shut him in.” 

These Scriptures show the faithfulness of Noah 
to God who had so graciously recognized him and 
revealed to him the coming of one of the notable 
epochs in time. 


90 


According to Scripture 


The disobedient and gainsaying people had no 
doubt derided Noah for his preaching and warning 
against the impending flood, for his preparing an 
ark for safety against “that day.” 

The ark was completed. Noah and his entered 
in. “God shut them in.” Yet seven days’ respite 
is given for preaching to the spirits in prison which 
is spent in fun-making and wickedness perhaps by 
many near the ark, to disturb the peace of him who 
enjoyed the peace of safety. “Having a good con¬ 
science; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as 
of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely 
accuse your good conversation in Christ.” 

Not Noah ashamed, shut in the ark by the Lord. 
“Ashamed of what he had done and preached.” 
“Sooner that evening should blush to own its star.” 

The seven days are past. The rain falls. The 
fountains of the deep are broken up. The sight of 
land disappears. The laughter without is turned 
to lamentation. The door is shut. None can be 
admitted. Safety, joy and happiness inside. Noah’s 
reputation as a preacher of God who knows the 
future is sustained. No one can say that he lost 
his life in foolishness or by a misguided enthu¬ 
siasm. The flood came as he said. The ark sailed 
above the highest mountains. Within the ark, 
“eight souls were saved by water. The like figure 
where unto even baptism doth now save us 
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but 
the answer of a good conscience toward God), by 
the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 

Here are presented two figures of people, 
“saved.” 

First, “Wherein eight souls were saved by 


wa- 


According to Scripture 


91 


Second, “The like figure where unto baptism 
doth also now save us.” 

They are like each other, and both are figures 
of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the 
“ark” of salvation. 

Noah had faith in what he preached, and like 
other elders, “By faith obtained a good report.” 
His reputation saved by the coming of the flood. 
We who preach that Christ died and rose again 
show our faith by our works by being “buried with 
Christ in baptism.” “Having our hearts sprinkled 
from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in 
pure water.” “Baptism is not the putting away of 
the filth of the flesh (sin) but the answer of a 
good conscience toward God.” Faith that works 
by love and purifies the heart has been exercised. 
The resurrection is the climatic proof of Christ’s 
being the Son of God (by it he made a good re¬ 
port of his claim but it did not make him to become 
the Son of God), and every one that loves him out 
of a pure heart is anxious to bear witness to the 
faith in his triumph over death. 

A baptism is a figure of the burial and resurrec¬ 
tion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There 
is much comfort in witnessing to so great a fact, 
as well as growth in the grace and knowledge of 
him who triumphed over death and the grave. The 
Apostle Peter, to the scattered strangers abroad, 
wrote in 1 Peter 1: 2-5, “Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according 
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto 
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 
from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and 
undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in 
heaven for you, who are kept by the power of 
God through faith unto salvation ready to be re- 


92 


According to Scripture 


vealed in the last time” (verse 23). “Being bom 
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, 
by the word of God which liveth and abideth for¬ 
ever.” 

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight, 
not as one that beateth the air: But I keep my 
body and bring it into subjection, lest by any 
means, when I have preached to others, I myself 
should be a castaway.” “Let your lights so shine 
before men that they see your good works and 
glorify your Father in heaven.” 

There are two justifications according to Scrip¬ 
ture as closely related to each other as repentance 
and faith and as distinct: viz., justification by faith 
the medium of rightness with God, and justification 
by works the manifestation of rightness with God, 
before men. “Abraham believed God, and it was 
counted unto him for righteousness,” being yet in 
uneircumcision, he staggered not at the promise 
of God; but was strong in faith that God had 
promised and was able to perform, “And therefore 
it was imputed to him for righteousness,” and not 
for his sake alone, but for us also if we believe 
on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the 
dead. 

After this justification Isaac was bom unto 
Abraham and Sarah, and “Was not Abraham our 
father justified by works, when he had offered 
Isaac his son upon the altar?” “Ye see then how 
that by works a man is justified, and not by faith 
only.” Though the two justifications are very dis¬ 
tinct, the son of the first will not argue, but per¬ 
form the work. 

“BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST” 

Again we find baptism presented figuratively. 
“Baptized into Jesus Christ,” “Baptized into his 


According to Scripture 


93 


death.” “Buried with him in baptism,” “Planted 
in the likeness of his death,” “Shall be in the like¬ 
ness of his resurrection.” 

“Baptized into Christ,” “Baptized into death,” 
cannot be literally performed, hence are figurative 
expressions of what has been done “for the dead 
in sin.” “Even when we were dead in sin, hath he 
quickened us together with Christ.” To do this re¬ 
quired “The exceeding greatness of his power to¬ 
ward us who believe, according to the working of 
his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, 
when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1: 
19, 20). 

Death to sin and life to righteousness are shown 
by the believer in baptism. “Buried with him in 
baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath 
raised him from the dead.” So baptism is a burial 
instead of a birth. 

“Through the faith of the operation of God” ex¬ 
presses the power and faith that precedes baptism. 
Baptized with the Holy Ghost and filled with Holy 
Ghost, are the same (Acts 4: 8). 

Figures are representatives of power. A paper 
dollar bill is not valued at intrinsic value, but for 
what it represents; while the gold in the vault is 
secure, the bill is current and passes for a dollar 
which is true, but that the bill is a dollar is not 
truth. The paper money is not an essential, but 
the way chosen to represent the value of the coin. 
So baptism has been appointed to represent the 
power of redemption through Christ Jesus. If 
baptism precedes and is essential to salvation, Paul 
must have been in an abnormal mood when he 
said, “I thank God that I baptized none of you but 
Crispus and Caius. . . . And I baptized also the 


94 


According to Scripture 


household of Stephanas: besides, I know not 
whether I baptized any other, for Christ sent me 
not to baptize but to preach the gospel.” 

Paul was thankful that he had not baptized but 
a few, but listen to his exultation: “For I am not 
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power 
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth 
... For therein is the righteousness of God re¬ 
vealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just 
shall live by faith.” Paul with some degree of sat¬ 
isfaction said, “I was not a whit behind the chief - 
est apostle in suffering above measure, in labors 
more abundant,” congratulates not himself for bap¬ 
tizing, which would be the climax of a preacher’s 
labors, if necessary to salvation. 

Titus 3:5-6. “Not by works of righteousness 
which we have done, but according to his mercy 
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and 
renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us 
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that 
being justified by his grace, we should be made 
heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

This is a scriptural showing of the “new birth.” 
It first removes the idea of merit of works upon 
which men might rely for salvation: “Not by works 
of righteousness which we have done.” 

“Works of righteousness” are according to God’s 
will, springing from the love of God, inspired by 
faith in God and for his glory. 

These have God as their moving cause and ulti¬ 
mate object. 

If any done with view of saving self they are 
shome of their virtue and are made works of sel¬ 
fishness, the embodiment of all sin. When self is 
the object, nothing is righteous or lovely unless 
suited to gratify and enhance personal interest. It 


According to Scripture 


95 


leads to spiritual blindness, to open idolatry and 
to false religion under the light of the gospel. Self- 
defense is claimed as the first law of nature while 
“self-denial” is the first demand in the plan of 
salvation, as “Deny yourself, take up your cross 
and follow me if ye will be my disciple.” 

In the quoted text “the washing of regeneration” 
is claimed as baptism by many. This interpreta¬ 
tion would necessitate the following reading, “he 
saved us by baptism and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost.” “Baptism” is a work of righteousness ac¬ 
cording to Christ’s saying to John when about to be 
baptized in the river of Jordan, “thus” (in the 
manner of baptism) “it becometh us to fulfill all 
righteousness.” 

This is a kindergarten definition of “a work of 
righteousness” and cannot be included in the plan 
of salvation, for it is written, “Not by works of 
righteousness ... he saved us.” In works man 
is active, in regeneration man is passive, “is saved.” 
Regeneration is spiritual and internal, God’s work¬ 
manship, created (not by) but unto good works. If 
salvation is “for” anything that man does, it is not 
of grace but of debt (Romans 11:6 and Romans 
4: 16; Ephesians 2: 8-10). It is instantaneous, for 
there is no limit of time between life and death. 
A Quaker saying is, “If one can get religion with¬ 
out knowing it, he can lose it and not miss it.” 
There may be a process of approach, but nothing 
short of being saved is salvation. The man fleeing 
for safety to the city of refuge was in danger till 
across the line which marked the limits of danger 
and the limits of safety. The avenger of blood 
must stop at the line, for this marks the priest’s 
ground, therefore the man cannot be taken. “Re¬ 
pentance toward God, faith toward the Lord Jesus 


96 


According to Scripture 


Christ,” puts the sinner on priest’s grounds. “The 
washing of regeneration” is exemplified in Revela¬ 
tion 1: 5 by “Jesus Christ the faithful witness. . . . 
Unto him that loved us and washed us from our 
sins in his own blood.” And 7: 14, “These are 
they which came out of great tribulation, and have 
washed their robes, and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb” (1 John 1: 17). “The blood of 
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 
(Ephesians 2: 13). “Ye who sometime were far off 
are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1: 
18-25). “Redeemed not with corruptible things, 
. . . but with the precious blood of Christ. . . . 
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the 
truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the 
brethren. . . Being born again, not of corruptible 
seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.” 

“For all flesh is as grass. . . . The grass wither- 
eth and the flower thereof falleth away: but the 
word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is 
the word which by the gospel is preached unto 
you.” 

“In vain we seek for peace with God 
By methods of our own; 

Blest Savior, nothing but thy blood 
Can bring us near thy throne. 

“And when I saw the blood, 

And looked on him who shed it, 

My right to peace was seen at once. 

And I with transport read it. 

“I dare not work my soul to save, 

That work my Lord has done; 

But I will work like any slave, 

For love of God’s dear Son. 

“ Tis love that makes our willing feet 
In swift obedience move, 

Love so amazing, so divine. 

Demands my soul, my life, my all.” 


According to Scripture 


97 


“The love of Christ constraineth me” (2 Corin¬ 
thians 5: 14), said the obedient Paul. 

“Love alone is wisdom, love alone is power; 
and where love seems to fail, it is where self has 
stepped between and dulled the potency of its 
rays .”—George McDonald. 

Religion without work may be only empty 
dreaming, passing emotion; work without religion 
makes a man a beast, a machine. 

OBEDIENCE 

This is compliance to rightful authority; the 
performance of what is commanded; the abstain¬ 
ing from what is prohibited, yielding willingly to 
dictation or to restraint. 

Obedience is not compromise in any sense. 
Compromise is mutual abatement of something 
commanded, by commander and subject. 

God’s commands must be fulfilled to the “jot 
and tittle” and the subject’s obedience must be 
wholly responsive. 

The first commandment is, “And thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy 
strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 
12:30). And the second is like, namely this, 
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There 
is none other commandment greater than these.” 
To obey this first comamndment required every 
scintilla of strength of a man, physically, intellec¬ 
tually, morally, and spiritually from birth to 
death, and if there be anything lacking it is em¬ 
braced in the second, “and thy neighbor as thy¬ 
self.” 


98 


According to Scripture 


This is as little as God would require every sec¬ 
ond of life of those that would live with him in 
perfect happiness. God could not allow sin by his 
will by indulgence. 

HE IS THE LORD JEHOVAH and cannot 
lie. “Since obedience is demanded, who can en¬ 
ter heaven, God’s house? If all do the best they 
can, or think, and shall be received, who will be 
lost? Obedience, in its full sense, to law and jus¬ 
tice is the only password that will be honored at 
the heavenly door. 

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God 
for Israel is, that they might be saved, for I bear 
them record that they have a zeal of God, but not 
according to knowledge. For being ignorant of 
God’s righteousness, and going about to establish 
their own righteousness, have not submitted them¬ 
selves unto the righteousness of God. For 
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to 
every one that believeth.” That is, Christ con¬ 
tains all within himself that the law demands for 
the justification of any who embrace him by faith, 
Jew or Gentile. This righteousness is imputed to 
the believer (Romans 4: 16-25), “That if thou 
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and 
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised 
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ... For 
there is no difference between the Jew and the 
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto 
all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call 
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom¬ 
ans 10: 9-13). “For what saith the Scripture? 
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto 
him for righteousness.” . . . “He staggered not at 
the promise of God through unbelief; but was 
strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being 


According to Scripture 


99 


fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he 
was able to perform, and therefore it (faith) was 
imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was 
not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed 
to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be im¬ 
puted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus 
our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for 
our offenses, and was raised again for our justi- 
fiaction” (Romans 4: 3, 20-25). 

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who 
knew no sin, that we might be made the righteous¬ 
ness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5: 21). The 
sinless made sin: the sinful made righteous. “He 
was wounded for our transgressions, he was 
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our 
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are 
healed” (Isaiah 55: 5). “That no flesh should glory 
in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, 
who of Cod is made unto us wisdom, and right¬ 
eousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 
Corinthians 1: 29, 30). “Therefore let no man 
glory in men, For all things are yours; Whither 
Paul, or Apollos, of Cephas, or the world, or life, 
or death, or things present, or things to come; 
all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is 
God’s” (1 Corinthians 3: 21-23). These Scriptures 
show the helplessness of man and the fullness of 
Christ in redemption. They need no comment. 
The first man sinned. The first Adam was earthy, 
and so all of his children. “For if by one man’s 
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the 
obedience of one shall many be made righteous” 
(Romans 5: 19). Let a distinction be known be¬ 
tween faith and presumption. Faith may be de¬ 
fined as the confidence the believer has in the 
faithfulness of the one who promised. Or as Paul 


• j 
> } > 
i ) 

> » 


l 


100 


According to Scripture 


defines, saying, “Faith is the substance (assurance) 
of things hoped for, the evidence (a conviction) 
of things not seen.” 

Presumption is to take without permission. 

Moses at the Red Sea had been promised an 
open way across, which he followed by faith and 
made the landing on the other side. Pharaoh had 
no promise, but presumed that as Moses with his 
multitude had passed through, he could likewise. 
We know the result. (Exodus 14: 13-31.) In the 
dilemma, the sea before, the Egyptians pursuing, 
the children of Israel crying out in fear, Moses 
said “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,” 
which was an open way across the sea, and “in 
the sea and in the cloud they were baptized unto 
Moses.” Walled in by the sea, covered by the 
cloud, they were baptized, in the cloud and in the 
sea, concealed from view (immersed). 

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice; and 
to hearken, than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15: 
22 ). 

To do what God commanded is essential in true 
religion in every dispensation. The value of com¬ 
mands rests entirely upon the appointment of God. 
Each to be observed in order stated, first things 
first, “Let all things be done decently and in or¬ 
der.” 

Some things essential to salvation and must be 
obeyed in an humble, penitent, and believing spir¬ 
it, These are not the many commands that the 
sincere are in doubt about but the few that we 
are assured of. 

Obedience to some make us to grow in grace 
and in knowledge and thereby we become better 
witnesses. If the saved build wisely and faithfully 
their works will not be lost: otherwise their works 


j (i« 


According to Scripture 


101 


will be burned, and they shall suffer loss though 
the builder shall be saved. (1 Cor. 3: 10-15.) 

Some plead their obedience whom the Savior 
never knew: “Many will say to me in that day, 
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? 
and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name 
done many wonderful works? And then will I 
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from 
me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7: 22, 23). 

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and 
angels, and have not charity (love), I am become 
as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” “And 
though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 
and though I give my body to be burned, and have 
not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing” (1 
Corinthians 13: 1-3). 

“Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul 
May keep the path, but will not reach the goal, 

While he who walks in love may wander far, 

Yet God will bring him where the blessed are.” 

— Selected. 

The necessity of obedience is so manifest that 
I take the privilege of inserting a writing from the 
pen of J. B. Gambrell, my friend and kinsman, 
on “Love and Loyalty,” the kingly words in the 
Christian vocabulary. 

It contains a repetition of sentiment already ex¬ 
pressed, but differently presented. The reader 
will bear in mind that obedience to rightful au¬ 
thority is the only security to liberty, and that 
this obedience can be recognized only by the rela¬ 
tionship that exists between the one in authority 
and the one under authority. Obedience does not 
win or secure a relationship between commander 
and subject, but places the obedient one in that re- 


102 


According to Scripture 


lationship to the commander where he can show the 
purposes of the command as in the case of master 
and servant. 

The purposes in this relationship are that the 
master shall have whatever benefits arise because 
of the servant’s labor. The servant’s benefits are 
rewards because of this relationship. Keeping 
this in view, that obedience grows out of relation¬ 
ship, the appropriateness of Dr. Gambrell’s let¬ 
ter will be readily seen. 

THE ORGANIZING SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLE 
OF NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES 

J. B. Gambrell 

In these times it is necessary to carefully dis¬ 
criminate between churches. The word church 
has come to have a very wide and varied use. 
There are Mormon churches, Christian Science 
churches, Catholic churches, Baptist, Methodist, 
Disciple churches, and on. Though practically all 
of them are professedly Christian, they cannot all 
be after the pattern set for us in the New Testa¬ 
ment. This discussion concerns itself with just 
one kind—New Testament churches. 

The title is an enlargement, and an adaptation 
of the title of an excellent little book by Prof. 
W. C. Wilkinson, “The Baptist Principle.” The 
author of that book states the principle in three 
words—obedience to Christ. If I choose to vary 
the phraseology somewhat and to go further back 
for my beginning, it will not mean that I deem 
Dr. Wilkinson’s statement faulty. 

Fundamental to any right church organization is 
a right spirit, and that right spirit is the spirit of 
Christ. A church is declared to be the body of 
Christ. Christ is its head. What could be more 


According to Scripture 


103 


inconsistent than that the body should be out of 
harmony with the head? The true organizing 
spirit of every New Testament church is the spirit 
of love shed abroad in regenerated hearts. This 
becomes a living experience, when one believes 
to the saving of the soul. It is Christ formed in 
the heart by the Holy Spirit, making a new crea¬ 
ture. This spirit is obedient. Lord, what will you 
have me do? is as natural to it as breathing is 
to the natural body. Love constrains the new¬ 
born soul to follow Jesus. 

This new experience sets the convert’s feet in a 
new path. Old things are gone. He is in a new 
realm. Instinctively he seeks new associations. 
The Christ in him is attracted by the Christ in 
others, and so the regenerated, by a new and heav¬ 
enly impulse, separate themselves from the old and 
group themselves together according to the desires 
of the new life. On the common principle of likes 
and dislikes, people bom again would get together 
for association, mutual joy and edification. Love, 
supreme love for Jesus, is the true organizing 
spirit of every real New Testament church in 
Christendom. It operates according to its nature. 
It attracts and repels. It separates the worldly 
from the heavenly—the things of the flesh from 
the things of Spirit. 

This new spirit brings one under the rule of 
Christ. It is the spirit of loyalty to Jesus as Lord 
and Master, and loyalty to Christ is the organizing 
principle of New Testament churches. 

Love and loyalty are the kingly words in the 
Christian vocabulary. If love inspires the life, 
loyalty to the will of the Master, as written in His 
Word, guides it. Love regulated by loyalty is 
essential to proper Christian living. This gives a 


104 


According to Scripture 


deep meaning to Paul’s prayer for the Philippians, 
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet 
more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” 
Love, even the most genuine, needs to know, and 
knowing, needs to discern the right to accept it 
and walk in it. True love obeys when it knows. 
If you love me keep my commandments, said the 
Christ. Love moves, loyalty leads, according to a 
knowledge of the Divine will, written in the Word- 
Obedience is the resultant of love and loyalty and 
knowledge. New Testament churches are con¬ 
structed on the teachings of Jesus given directly 
and through inspired men. The methods and the 
model are simple, exceedingly simple, so simple 
indeed, as to be an offense to the worldly-wise. 

After regeneration the next thing in the Divine 
order is open confession. This is an imperative 
duty and a high privilege. Love wants to confess. 
Love often breaks forth into confession and praise. 
It brings the new convert out into the open on the 
side of him whom its soul loveth. It separates 
and it leads right on to that first striking symbolic 
act—holy baptism. Loyalty demands obedience. 
The command is plain. The act is striking and 
meaningful. There is no place in the Divine order 
for quibbling. Obedience is the word. Loyalty 
says, “Speak Lord, thy servant heareth.” It is at 
this point that the world has gone to pieces. Bap¬ 
tism restored to its proper place and functions to¬ 
day would reconstruct the Christian world theolog¬ 
ically and ecclesiologically. We are “planted to¬ 
gether” in the likeness of his death. It is the uni¬ 
fying ordinance of the Christian religion. It car¬ 
ries at its heart the gospel of salvation “in a fig¬ 
ure,” not in substance. It proclaims the central 
truth of the Christian system, the death and res- 


According to Scripture 


105 


Direction of Jesus, and in indissoluble relation 
there to our death to the old life and resurrection 
to a new life. As the flood separated between the 
old world condemned to an overthrow and the new 
world of hope, so baptism separates the baptized 
“in a figure” from the life of deadness in sin and 
the new life in Jesus. 

Baptism restored everywhere to its place and 
functions would destroy proxy religion, the curse 
of ages gone. It would destroy the flesh and blood 
conception of church relations. It would destroy 
forever the sacramental view and rehabilitate in 
the world the Scripture doctrine of spiritual, ex¬ 
perimental religion. It would restore to the world 
a converted spiritual church. It would end the com¬ 
munion controversy. Till there is loyalty and Scrip¬ 
tural knowledge enough to break down ecclesiasti¬ 
cal authority, and the authority and self-will of 
men, which have asserted themselves against the 
plain command of the Lord from heaven, there will 
never be surcease from the baptismal controversies 
of the ages. 

Loyalty made vital and controlling by the love 
of Christ that will allow no rival, will go on from 
confession and baptism to church relations regu¬ 
lated everywhere by the same organizing spirit 
and principle. Two things are and always will 
be necessary to the construction and life of a New 
Testament church. These are constraining love 
and supreme loyalty to the teachings of the head 
of the church—even Jesus Christ, the Lord. 

Whoever enters a church for purposes other than 
those for which a church exists under the law of 
Christ, profanes the holy institution, and violates, 
at the start, the organizing principle of the body. 
Whoever enters the sacred fold of a New Testament 


106 


According to Scripture 


church for the love of anyone or anything more 
than the love of him who bought it with his blood, 
and sanctified it with his blood, commits a gross 
sacrilege. The first has vulgarized the true and 
only organizing principle of the church, and who¬ 
ever enters a church or employs its ordinances or 
privileges except for the love of its head, debases 
holy things to a common human level. This ex¬ 
plains Paul’s teaching concerning those who use 
the Lord’s Supper unworthily, i. e., for common 
social purposes. 

Love and loyalty, with New Testament teaching, 
will hold the world to the truth as it is in Jesus, 
and solve the problems of unity now pressing for 
solution. Nothing else will. Union without these 
is not only impossible, but wholly undesirable. 
It is much more: it is treason to the Lord of glory, 
and is sure to bring on to the extent it obtains, 
Laodicean weakness and lead to a new apostasy, 
to be followed by an era of confusion and strife. 

The insistent call of all who love the Lord Jesus 
in sincerity and truth should be for a return to 
the real organizing spirit and principle of New 
Testament churches. We are at the beginning of 
a new era in the world’s history, a reconstruction 
era. When the council at Rome passed the Papal 
infallibility dogma, Cardinal Newman, amidst wild 
excitement, waving the paper aloft, said: “Let all 
the world go to bits and we will reconstruct it on 
this paper.” Baptists have a far surer word for 
the world. They can say in this momentous hour: 
Let all the world go to bits, and we will recon¬ 
struct it on the two principles—supreme love to 
Christ and unbending loyalty to his authority—as 
expressed in the Holy Scriptures. 



According to Scripture 


107 


DILEMMA OF A PREACHER WHO DENIED 
IMMERSION AS TAUGHT IN THE 
BIBLE AS BAPTISM 

He had preached with much and many words 
advocating this denial. 

Several persons present wishing to be immersed, 
and join the Methodist church, were not convinced 
by the discourse. The preacher and the candi¬ 
dates for baptism (immersion) went down into 
the water, and he audibly said as each one pre¬ 
sented to be immersed, “I baptize thee, my brother, 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Spirit: Amen.” 

Soon after I preached in the same community 
and had as an auditor the preacher referred to 
above. He asked me several questions while I 
discoursed, which I answered. 

I, in turn, asked him if he had said “that im¬ 
mersion was not scriptural baptism.” 

He answered, “I did.” 

I then asked, “Did you afterward immerse some 
people, saying: “I baptize thee, my brother, etc.”? 

His answer was distinct and emphatic, “/ did." 

I then asked him to please tell the audience 
which statement to believe. No answer. 

The preacher’s name was Elder J. M. Wells, 
known as Colonel Wells, his military title. 

Churches are not for the felicity of pastor and 
flock, but for facility to bless others. 

CONUNDRUM 

When a young minister I was approached by a 
Disciple brother and solicited to take membership 
with the Christian church, insisting that the great 


108 


According to Scripture 


difference between “your church and my church” 
was in name and manner of taking the Lord’s Sup¬ 
per. 

I would only drop the name Baptist and take 
the name Christian, and practice Close Commun¬ 
ion with them if I wished. 

My reply was, “If that is all the difference be¬ 
tween Baptists and Disciples, I have been wrongly 
taught.” He asked me to state the difference. I 
looked at my watch to see the time and found I 
was late. We were in a store and on the counter 
was a lot of “bed ticking.” I remarked, “I will 
give this conundrum which shows the difference 
between the two churches: What is the difference 
between a good feather bed and a good watch?” 

He gave it up, and called on me to explain. 

I answered: “The feather bed has the ticking 
without; the watch has the ticking within. Which 
do you prefer?” No answer. 

NONPLUSSED 

I drove into a town riding in a rickety buggy, 
and being in haste, I asked some friends who were 
at leisure if they would keep my “turn-out” for a 
moment, to save me the time of hitching. 

The prompt reply was, “We will, with pleas¬ 
ure.” 

One of the friends was a preacher that rendered 
“baptize—not to go in the water.” Two others 
were of the same persuasion. 

I returned quickly and found one of the two 
with a monkey-wrench tightening the loose taps 
on my “turn-out.” 

The preacher, mindful of my return and of my 
theology which “goes into the water,” remarked 
to be heard, “Never mind tightening the nuts, 



According to Scripture 


109 


Brother Burress will soon drive into the water and 
tighten them.” 

Brother Burress, hearing the remark, answered 
back, “That’s a good work, let him go on. The 
eunuch commanded the chariot to stand still, “and 
they went down both into the water, both Philip 
and the eunuch; and he baptized him,” “Accord¬ 
ing to Scripture.” 

DID SHE DO RIGHT? 

A lady had made profession of religion and 
wished to join the Methodist church on condition 
that she be immersed. The minister consented. 
Time and place for the immersion announced. 
Many people assembled to witness. The preacher 
and lady walked “down into the water.” The 
preacher remarked, “My sister, I do not believe in 
this, but to satisfy your conscience I immerse you.” 

The sister withdrew, remarking, “You can’t bap¬ 
tize me, you having no faith.” She turned to the 
audience, asking, “Is there a Baptist preacher pres¬ 
ent?” 

Elder Lancaster answered, “I am a Baptist 
preacher, and am known throughout Tippah Coun¬ 
ty, Mississippi.” 

The lady further asked, “Will you baptize me?” 

Elder Lancaster answered, “If you will tell your 
Christian experience to the Baptists that are pres¬ 
ent and they approve, I will.” 

The conference was soon in session, and the lady 
told that she had been convicted of sin, found 
trouble and sorrow, repented of sins, and found joy 
and peace when she trustingly believed in Jesus 
as the Savior of penitent believers. 


110 


According to Scripture 


This conference measured her according to the 
measure of the rule which God had distributed to 
each believer. 

The lady was counted ready for baptism. She 
and Elder Lancaster went both into the water, both 
the preacher and the sister, and he baptized her. 
“Baptism is the answer to a good conscience.” 
Loyalty to truth is evidence of such a conscience. 

Who condemns this loyal woman? See thou 
be baptized according to the pattern given in the 
river Jordan. 

‘To Jordan’s stream the Spirit led, 

To mark the path his saints should tread; 

With joy they trace the sacred way, 

To see the place where Jesus lay. 

“Baptized by John in Jordan’s wave, 

The Savior left his watery grave; 

Heaven owned the deed, approved the way, 

And blessed the place where Jesus lay. 

“Come, all who love his precious name, 

Come, tread his steps and learn of him; 

Happy beyond expression they 
Who find the place where Jesus lay.” 

A figure is an expression of a real fact, as bap¬ 
tism is of the burial and resurrection of Jesus our 
Lord: “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye 
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in work 
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor 
is not in vain in the Lord.” “For see, saith he, 
that thou make all things according to the pattern 
shewed to thee in the mount.” 


According to Scripture 


111 


PREPARING TO FLOAT A CUBE OF CORK 

A tourist on board a ship out in mid-ocean was 
preparing to cast a cube of cork upon the waves, 
when asked his purpose replied: “To have some¬ 
thing to think about when I wish to escape the 
cares of office. I will in my imagination try to 
track the voyage of that cork.” He was told that 
probably it would be tossed by wind and waves un¬ 
til at last it would be cast in that vast floating is¬ 
land known as Sargasso, the sewage of the Atlan¬ 
tic. 

He was told to firmly imbed a powerful load¬ 
stone in the cork and altogether a different destiny 
would follow. The might of the mystical magne¬ 
tism within and its affinity for the pole of the earth 
will drive it through storms and tides to the north 
pole where it would make its home at the top of 
the world. 

A very serious question is, What will become of 
the men drifting on the ocean of time, driven by 
the fury of conflicting currents of thought and 
temptations? 

If left to themselves they will drift to the Sar¬ 
gasso, the sewage of humanity. If, on the other 
hand, Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life is 
formed in them the hope of glory, they cannot be 
lost. The New Jerusalem which is above is the 
mother of all such and the holy city, New Jeru¬ 
salem, coming down from God out of heaven will 
claim her children and take them to the house of 
many mansions prepared for them, for they have 
been bom anew. 

But one wonders if any believer has let the very 
first Bible principle escape his faith, which is that 
human authority is nothing and divine truth is the 
end of all controversy? 


112 


According to Scripture 


What the Bible stands for above everything else 
in religion is that the plan of salvation, the religion 
of the spirit as distinguished from a religion of 
rites. Hence a church composed of such believers, 
who give a reason for such faith, having been re¬ 
generated by the Holy Spirit, “contending earnest¬ 
ly for the faith once for all given to the saints.” 

The responsibility and accountability of man 
is a burden" so great that no created being could 
even share the burden and make man master over 
sin: hence Christ is Lord of the soul and con¬ 
science, the Sacrificial Offering for all sin, and the 
redeemed “crown him Lord of all.” 

ADDENDUM 

The author of this booklet was a soldier under 
Gen. R. E. Lee in the “War Between the States.” 
The story I wish to relate may appear egotistical, 
if not conceited, but I am now past the date when 
egotism is a crime. The Conferedate army was in 
front of Richmond, confronted by the Federal army 
commanded by General McClelland. 

Soldiers get sick in camp, and it was my lot to 
be reported sick when “The Seven Days’ Battles in 
Front of Richmond” began. The Nineteenth Mis¬ 
sissippi Regiment was called to go to the front. 
I arose from my pallet and accoutred myself for 
the battle. Answering to roll call my captain 
said, “You are sick and can’t go.” T an¬ 
swered back, “Let me go as far as I can.” The 
reply came, “The surgeon says you are not able.” 
I spoke as bravely as I could, saying, “If my mus¬ 
ket is not in battle, General Lee will be defeated.” 
Consent was given. Sixty-seven men answered 
“Here,” rank and file. When the battles were ended 
only two stood with musket in hand on Malvern 


According to Scripture 


113 


Hill. Killed and wounded and overcome by fatigue 
claimed the sixty-five “missing.” Comrade John 
Sanders and I remained of the sixty-seven. Called 
to rest, we reviewed the battles, speaking of our 
absent comrades. Overcome with solemn loneliness 
we lay on the ground for our bunk, having the 
heavens for our covering. We wrapped our arms 
around each other and sobbed into a sleep of for¬ 
getfulness for a time. 

General Lee bivouacked the army and soon the 
ranks were partially repleted, the disabled regain¬ 
ing strength. The furloughed returning, newly en¬ 
listed coming in, the army was soon on the way to 
the battle which is called the “Second Battle of 
Manassas.” 

With the new enlisted soldiers, the men swept 
as an avalanche down a mountain side, slaying 
and driving the Federal army from the field. 

After this battle and when darkness covered the 
field, the Confederate soldiers were grouped here 
and there reciting the events of the battle. Far 
into the night a most sympathetic cry for water was 
heard. Three of us (Confederates), with well-filled 
canteens, guided by the cry, found a Federal sol¬ 
dier among the dead, wounded, blinded, unable to 
help himself in any way. We offered him water. 
He asked, “Who brings it, Federals or Rebels?” 
We answered, “Rebels.” He replied, “I won’t 
drink it.” We tried to assure him that there was 
no harm in the water. He would not believe it. 
We washed his face. We put water to his mouth. 
He compressed his lips. He clenched his teeth. 
He was absolutely deaf to every appeal. We went 
away from the suffering, dying man, but could not 
stay away, so moved were we by pity for the dying 
man, though our enemy in war, yet our fellowman 


114 


According to Scripture 


before God. We returned to him and renewed our 
entreaties to have him to drink of the water we 
had. He still called for water, but with a failing 
voice. Still he would not drink, his voice be¬ 
coming weaker each successive effort to speak. 
Soon a whisper is all that could be heard. Lower 
and longer drawn out was the cry. His last word 
was “w-a-t-e-r.” 

APPLICATION TO CHRISTIAN WARFARE 

The Old Guard of Christians have fought under 
Christ, their Captain, as did the Confederates in 
front of Richmond under Lee. Death has decimated 
their numbers, but enlistments have been steadily 
replenishing their ranks, as in the last three years 
Baptists have baptized about one million in their 
fellowship, besides the increased number of foreign 
missionaries and the increased fruitage of their 
fields. The nations of the earth are in commotion, 
crying for the water of life. Will not American 
Christians carry it to them? All will not refuse 
as did the Federal soldier. Go, ere they die! Bet¬ 
ter go and fail, than not go. “The Spirit and the 
bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst, come. 
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life 
freely.” “Go ye into all the world and preach the 
gospel to every creature. Lo I am with you alway.” 
“My spirit shall not always strive with man.” 

A PARTIAL COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND 
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES 

L. R. Burress 

The epoch from which the New Testament, or 
gospel church is to be computed is the preaching 
and baptism of John the Baptist. 


According to Scripture 


115 


“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God, as it is written in the prophets, 
Behold I will send my messenger before thy 
face which shall prepare thy way before thee.” 

The faithfulness of the messenger must be equal 
to the truthfulness of the prophet that both may 
harmonize in the authority, which inspired the 
prophet and sent the messenger. 

Those to whom the oracles of God had been com¬ 
mitted were satisfied to be children of Abraham 
and zealous in keeping the traditions of the elders. 
They flattered themselves that because Abraham 
was their father they were entitled to all of the 
favors promised from heaven. When the favors of 
John’s ministry were sought on these grounds the 
faithful messenger warned them not to think of 
such claims, but to “bring forth fruits meat for re¬ 
pentance.” He baptized only such as freely re¬ 
pented of their sins, which showed their abhorrence 
of sin, and faith on Christ who should come. 

John’s ministry was provisional, to be followed 
by the permanency of the gospel, which he intro¬ 
duced in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of 
God, whom John “baptized in Jordan.” 

The ministry of John was the acorn containing 
in embryo the epitome of the giant oak. As the 
acorn decreased the growing oak caried with it 
the inherent virtues of the acorn. So the ministry 
of Jesus retained the preaching and baptism of 
John, which were essential witnesses of Jesus, be¬ 
ing “made manifest to Israel.” 

Both preached repentance and faith. Both bap¬ 
tized disciples and exhorted to holy life. Neither 
used force nor offered worldly allurements as in¬ 
ducements to discipleship. They published facts 
and declared truths, leaving their hearers free to 


116 


According to Scripture 


act. Consequently the hearer had nothing but con¬ 
viction to induce him to follow. Hence baptism 
was to their disciples an answer to a good con¬ 
science. “While Jesus continued in the world, he 
made disciples and baptized them” (though Jesus 
baptized not, but his disciples), after his ascen¬ 
sion the world-wide commission which was to be¬ 
gin at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, “those 
who gladly received the word were baptized.” The 
same is recorded of the Samaritans, who believed 
the preaching of Philip, of the eunuch, who went 
down into the water with Philip and was baptized; 
so was Lydia and the jailor at Philippi, Stephanas 
of Corinth, and Paul defining his baptism, includ¬ 
ing all that he and his colaborers had baptized 
said, “Therefore we are (were, R. V.) buried with 
him by baptism into death.” These citations are 
sufficient to show that the acorn and the tree pos¬ 
sess like natures, and each branch of the tree is 
like every other branch of the tree or “vine.” “Ye 
are the branches.” The individual disciples and 
not a congregation of believers. The believers that 
form a church are “fitly framed together.” The 
persons thus “framed” are equal. Christ is the 
head of the New Testament church, therefore, the 
only law giver. The officers of the church are 
deacons, who are intrusted with the temporal in¬ 
terests of the church. The spiritual officers are 
elders, pastors, overseers, bishops, each of these 
meaning the same in the New Testament. 

It is not likely that any change, either by ad¬ 
dition, subtraction, or substitution will put Chris¬ 
tianity in a better state than that in which Christ 
Jesus the Lord and the Holy Spirit put it. Let all 
heed the warning in Revelation 22: 18, 19, and be 
mindful of Proverbs 30: 5, 6. “Every word of God 


According to Scripture 117 

is pure, add thou not unto his words, lest he re¬ 
prove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Peter says, 
“The words of the Lord endureth forever.” David 
prayed, “0 let me not wander from thy command¬ 
ments.” God’s Word is not like clay in the human 
potter’s hand to be changed at will, but like let¬ 
ters cut in glass by a diamond. Christianity is not 
of the nature of a progressive science. It is writ¬ 
ten in a book and that book was closed (finished) 
till the books shall be opened by him who shall 
“sit on the great white throne.” The ordinances 
given to this church are two, Baptism and the Lord’s 
Supper. The Commission enjoins the observance 
of these as directed to “the end of the world,” till 
Christ shall come again. Turning now to consider 
some of the claims of 

The Catholic Church 

it is admitted that the polity of this church is a 
masterly conception. It has swayed its thousands 
through many centuries. It boasts today of its 
antiquity and of its achievements. It looks forward 
to a final conquest of the world, believing that it 
holds the destiny of men in its will, and has a 
rightful claim to all men in this life. It claims the 
child before the swaddling clothes hide its nudity, 
and long after the grave clothes of the adult have 
decayed into dust. For this reason the priest of the 
Catholic church baptizes the new-born infant, and 
canonizes the “saint,” years, yea centuries, after 
the saint’s spirit has gone to heaven. 

The Roman Catholic church having such a long 
history and such a vision of the future, it is well 
to examine these claims by the only standard of 
revealed truth known to men, which is the sacred 
Scriptures. This church acknowledges the deity of 


118 


According to Scripture 


the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 
and the inspiration of the Scriptures, but the lat¬ 
ter not sufficient to lead the soul from earth to 
heaven. 

Cardinal Gibbons says, on page 111 of The 
Faith of Our Fathers, “Now the Scriptures alone 
do not contain all the truths which a Christian is 
bound to believe, nor do they explicitly enjoin all 
the duties which he is obliged to practice.” On 
page 112 he continues, “We must, therefore, con¬ 
clude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a suffi¬ 
cient guide and rule of faith, because they cannot, 
at any time, be within the reach of every inquirer; 
because they are not of themselves clear and intel¬ 
ligible even in matters of the highest importance, 
and because they do not contain all the truths 
necessary for salvation.” 

This insufficiency of the Scriptures to the mind 
of the Catholic demanded a divinely appointed 
successor to Christ the Lord, whom they recognize 
in Peter, one of the twelve apostles, “and that the 
same spiritual supremacy has always resided in 
the popes, or bishops of Rome, as being the succes¬ 
sors of St. Peter,” that unwritten truths may be 
known. Catholics claim that the authority for this 
supremacy being given to St. Peter is found in 
Matthew 16: 13-19 (which see, as space forbids 
the quotation). Much has been written as setting 
forth the teachings of these verses, saying that 
Peter is the Rock, others say that Peter’s confession 
is the Rock, but is it not clear that the Rock-foun¬ 
dation is the revelation made by the Father to 
Peter, which is, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of 
the living God”? 

Jesus Christ, the Son, is the Father’s revelation, 
who “brought life and immortality to light through 


According to Scripture 


119 


the gospel.” “He only is my rock and my salva¬ 
tion,” said David. Paul combating the carnal Cor¬ 
inthians for saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I am of 
Apollos,” said with emphasis, “For other founda¬ 
tion can no man lay than that is laid, which is 
Jesus Christ.” “Therefore, let no man glory in 
men, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, ye are 
Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 

Paul to Ephesians, 2: 19-22, assures them as the 
household of God that they are built upon the 
foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus 
Christ himself being their chief cornerstone. This 
teaches that “apostles and prophets” hold equal 
places in the foundation, and that all the building 
is fitly formed together in Christ. 

In Luke 22: 30 Jesus promised thrones to the 
apostles on which they would sit, judging the 
twelve tribes of Israel; Peter was not promised a 
superior throne. 

1 Corinthians 12: 28, God set some in the church, 
first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers 
and others. The membership belongs to no one 
class, but all are members of one body, and are, 
therefore, brethren. If Peter was made pre-emi¬ 
nent why did he not preside over the council of 
apostles and elders instead of James, as reported in 
Acts 15? Peter, Paul and Barnabas addressed 
the council, and James gave sentence, which 
“pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole 
church.” 

If Peter was pope, why was John and not Peter 
chosen to write the book of Revelation? Peter 
made no claim of official authority over or above 
his brethren. His highest claim was that of “a 
servant,” “an elder,” and “an apostle.” 


120 


According to Scripture 


“The keys” promised to Peter did not authorize 
the enactment of laws, nor to amend or repeal 
laws, but as “keys” are given that the honored 
one may enter in and enjoy the things that are 
under the keys, so Peter was promised labors in 
the vineyard of his Master according to the gospel 
of grace. Worell translates Matthew 16: 19, “I 
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven 
and whatsoever you shall bind on the earth shall 
have been bound in heaven, and whatsoever you 
shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in 
heaven.” Matthew 18: 18 is similarly rendered. 
Like authority is here conferred on all of the apos¬ 
tles, so one-man supremacy and power is not rec¬ 
ognized. However, give all their dues: Peter was 
the chief speaker and a leader in much that was 
transacted. At Pentecost he was chief speaker. In 
the house of Cornelius he led the services, thus 
opening “the door” unto the Gentiles. Peter was 
regarded as one of the pillars of the Jerusalem 
Church, but given no distinction as being “head of 
the church.” 

Moreover, Peter was a married man. This dis¬ 
qualified him as a pope. Jesus cured “Peter’s 
wife’s mother” of fever. I have heard it stated 
that Catholics claim that Peter put away his wife 
after the resurrection of the Savior, that he might 
serve unhindered as pope. 

I quote the following from the Douay Version 
(Catholic translation), 1 Corinthians 9:5, “Have 
we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as 
well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of 
the Lord, and Cephas?” 

The Greek word rendered “woman” is the same 
in Matthew 5: 31, rendered “wife.” I have six 
other translations and each of them says “wife” in 


According to Scripture 121 

both references. It is well to remark that some 
of these versions say “a wife, as a sister,” “a wife 
that is a believer.” Paul is expressing his freedom 
to use his apostolic office, as other apostles do, for 
he had received his commission from the Lord, 
whom he had seen, and not from any of them, and 
he felt free to take a wife. As Peter was not the 
“vicar” of Christ, the “papacy” is without a head, 
an,d, is in the class of the “acephali,” a body of 
men not having a chief, or head. Two Irishmen 
found a turtle crawling, having no head. One re¬ 
marked, “It is dead, for it has no head.” The 
other said, “It is alive, or it could, not crawl.” 
They called a third man to decide. This man said, 
“It is dead, but don’t know it.” 

In the time of Philip the Fair, king of France, 
two “heads” of the church arose with conflicting 
claims. They charged each other with usurpa¬ 
tion, and declared anathema against each other. 
Rome hurled invectives against Avignon, and Avig¬ 
non, with equal incentive, hurled curses against 
Rome, no doubt each wishing the other dead. 

Persecution 

A New Testament church is not a persecuting 
body. “When persecuted in one city, flee to an¬ 
other,” said the Founder. There may be some 
individual members who do as Peter did in the 
garden with his Lord: draw the sword for defense. 
“Resist not evil, but overcome evil with good,” is 
the divine shiboleth of a New Testament church. 

The Catholic church relied not alone on morals, 
the civil sword was employed to support her 
claims. The Inquisition was intrusted with power 
to arrest and examine any suspected of heresy, and 
if found to be heretics they were handed over to 


122 


According to Scripture 


the civil authorities for punishment according to 
the laws of the state. “This arm of the church” 
gave out the au-to-cle-fee, which was the judicial 
announcement of the sentence of the Inquisition, 
which sentence was “to be burnt at the stake” un¬ 
less the culprit would “recant.” So long as the 
records of the Inquisition and of the Jesuits are 
defended, Rome will justly be charged with the 
blood of martyrs. “Woe to you who build the 
monuments of the prophets: and your fathers killed 
them. Truly you bear witness that you consent to 
the doings of your fathers: for they indeed killed 
them, and you build their sepulchers” (Douay Ver¬ 
sion, Luke 11: 47, 48). 

Catholics of today prosecute Tom Watson and 
The Menace , charging that they publish falsehoods 
against them. If the charges made by Mr. Watson 
and The Menace be false the Catholics should show 
the Christ spirit as announced in his beautitudes: 
“Blessed are ye when they shall revile you and 
persecute you, and speak all that is evil against 
you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for 
your reward is very great in heaven” (Douay Ver¬ 
sion, Matthew 5: 10, 11). “This is the word of 
the Lord. Not with an army, nor by might, but 
by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Ibd. Zach- 
arias 4:6). 

It must be said here, that when Protestantism 
gained supremacy, the struggle between it and 
Catholicism was intense and cruel. Both rendered 
themselves abhorrent and cruel in spite of peace 
and morality. Which ever was victorious boasted 
of liberty, power and divine favor. On the con¬ 
trary, which ever was beaten accused the victor 
of strategems, oppressions, and “Neronic” cruelty. 
Devout men perished under the hand of the tri- 


According to Scripture 


123 


umphant, but joy to the world; there was and is a 
Kingdom which is not of this world, else angels 
would fight for it, the song which is, “Peace on 
earth and good will to men.” 

Roger Williams and John Clark Were The 

Apostles 

of religious liberty, in America, and not Lord Bal¬ 
timore, who settled Maryland. The latter was very 
liberal, extending protection to all forms of Chris¬ 
tianity, but opposing even unto death any who de¬ 
nied the divinity of Christ; while Roger Williams, 
who settled Rhode Island, protected all men to 
worship as they pleased, or not worship if they so 
willed. 

I close this abbreviated article by referring to 
the “allocution” issued by Pope Benedict, Decem¬ 
ber 3, 1916, authorizing the modification of church 
laws. “The Pope pointed out that the abrogation 
or modification of laws during the long history 
of church legislation had caused a complication 
which made a new modification a work of neces¬ 
sity .”—Commercial Appeal. This must have been 
issued ex cathedra at the secret consistory when the 
pope created ten new cardinals. 

For “infallibility” to abrogate or modify laws 
that “infallibilities” in a “long history” have en¬ 
acted, suggests the old problem, “If an irresistible 
power strikes against an immovable object, what 
results?” 

Jonesboro, Ark. 

A LIBERAL REWARD 

The Converted Catholic Evangelist , under the 
head of “A Challenge to Roman Catholics,” had the 
following: 


124 


According to Scripture 


“1. One text of Scripture proving that we 
ought to pray to the Virgin Mary. 

“2. One text of Scripture to prove that the 
Virgin Mary was born without sin. 

“3. One text of Scripture to prove that Saint 
Peter had no wife. 

“4. One text of Scripture to prove that priests 
ought not to marry. 

“5. One text of scripture to prove that St. 
Peter was bishop of Rome. 

“6. One text of Scripture to prove that the pope 
is the vicar of Christ or the successor of St. Peter. 

“7. One text of Scripture to prove that priests 
can forgive sins. 

“8. One text of Scripture to prove that the 
wine at the Lord’s table ought to be taken by the 
priests only. 

“9. One text of Scripture to prove that there 
is such a thing as the Roman mass. 

“10. One text of Scripture to prove that the 
priests have power to change the bread and wine 
into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus 
Christ. 

“11. One text of Scripture to prove that there 
are seven sacraments. 

“12. One text of Scripture to prove that the 
use of images was recommended either by Christ 
or by his apostles. 

“13. One text of Scripture to prove the exis¬ 
tence of such a place as purgatory. 

“14. One text of Scripture to prove that there 
are more meditators than one. 

“15. One text of Scripture to prove that we 
ought to pray for the dead. 

“16. One text of Scripture to prove that we 
should fast on Fridays. 


According to Scripture 125 

“17. One text of Scripture to prove the infal¬ 
libility of the pope. 

“18. One text of Scripture to prove that bap¬ 
tism ‘cleanses from original sin, makes Christians 
and children of God, and heirs to the kingdom of 
heaven’. 

“19. One text of Scripture to prove that un¬ 
baptized children after death go to a place called 
‘limbo’, or that there is such a place. 

“20. One text of Scripture to sanction the bap¬ 
tism of bells. 

“21. One text of Scripture to prove that a man 
should be prosecuted and cursed who conscien¬ 
tiously leaves the religion in which he was born, to 
accept that of Jesus Christ.” 

THE PRIEST-HOOD OF CHRIST 

Priest-hood embraces or has reference to the 
office, rank and characteristics of a priest; second, 
it embraces the order of men set apart for sacred 
offices. 

While there is no general agreement as to the 
etymology of the word priest, yet in all common 
uses by men it is applied to one who stands be¬ 
tween God and man. 

Hood means a covering. As a suffix, it means 
state, character, condition, as man-hood, child¬ 
hood, state-hood; so the compound word, priest¬ 
hood, may mean the character of the one to whom 
it is applied as comprising that also which he 
uses as a covering in his office as he stands as a 
go-between or mediator between God and man, 
as a priest robed for service. 

It is not to be understood that hood is used here 
in any sense to refer to the outward covering of 
the priest, but to that needed characteristic of a 


126 


According to Scripture 


true priest, a covering for sin for “all hoods make 
not priests.” It may be truly said, that the idea 
of a priest-hood connects itself in some form more 
or less intelligible, pure or corrupted, with the 
consciousness of sin. Man feels that he has broken 
a law. This disobedience he finds to be sin, and 
for this he involuntarily seeks a covering. 

So far as my information extends there is no 
nation nor tribe, in any age of the world that ever 
has been utterly destitute of a priest-hood in some 
form. Paganism in its most degraded forms, as 
well as in its polished and refined forms, has its 
priests. 

The Red Man of our own land had his medicine¬ 
man to whom is intrusted offerings for sin. 

Society may exist without civil government, with¬ 
out books, but it has not been without a priest. 

It has been well said that if a man is not a re¬ 
ligious being he is a superstitious being; and in 
either case he appeals through a priest-hood to a 
higher power than himself. 

The name priest-hood may exist where the reality 
is dead; and where the reality itself is death, there 
is a form to preserve the death-like reality. Human 
wisdom has never conceived of a priest-hood that 
could cover the shame of sin, or build a temple 
in which the glory and goodness of God would 
cast out sin for the sake of the building. What 
man needs is a hand that is allied to the unseen, 
to wipe away the tears of sorrow and give him 
blessedness. 

Our first parents lost their innocence, conse¬ 
quently their joy and happiness, by transgression. 
To be dispossessed of innocence was to be pos¬ 
sessed of guilt. Guilt brought shame. Shame 
called for a covering or a hiding. Human wis- 


According to Scripture 


127 


dom devised an external covering. In this in¬ 
stance, made of “fig leaves.” From this simple 
and worthless device have grown all the man-made 
and man-adopted forms of external ritualism that 
are interposed as necessities between offended God 
and offending man. The result of such a system 
will ever be as it has been to exterminate more and 
more the religious life of the individual to the de¬ 
cay of every spiritual principle. 

The externals of Christianity in the hands of 
human priests have been vexing in its multiplied 
exactions and aggravated by the traditional addi¬ 
tions of such a priest-hood. 

The heart or conscience, the seat of all moral 
wellbeing, is lost sight of, while the mind is 
distracted to understand the mysterious virtues 
that are to follow these observances.and the body is 
offered as a perishable sacrifice acceptable to the 
will of some man or imaginary God or canonized 
saint. This is a deadly upas tree beneath which 
all who fall under its influence will sleep the 
sleep of death. “If the blind lead the blind both 
will fall into the ditch.” Here are inventions that 
promise freedom from sin: ordinances by the hand 
of a man that displaces Christ: works standing for 
merit, the claiming a merited salvation for sin¬ 
ners: work of the Spirit substituted by the work 
of soul, “stop your meanness and join the 
church;” faithfulness in externals for faith in 
Christ, till the deluded are boastful of “sinless 
perfection,” rather than completeness in Christ. 

A misconception of the priest-hood will lead to 
a misconception to the way to deliverance. 

It was not intended that perfection should be 
by the Aaronic priest-hood, “For the law made 
nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope 


128 


According to Scripture 


did: by the which we draw nigh unto God” (He¬ 
brews 7: 19). 

This ordained priest-hood was not designed to 
secure salvation; neither should salvation be ex¬ 
pected of a human devised priest-hood. If fol¬ 
lowed in all its appointments it could not make 
the comers thereunto perfect; how can man expect 
perfection in the abuse? 

The great need of sinful men is a priest-hood 
complete within itself. By nature man is spiritual¬ 
ly dead, and he cannot do works unto life. He is 
without strength, he can not offer gifts. So he 
is a subject wholly for mercy and must find his 
efficiency in his Mediator, Jesus Christ, the great 
High Priest for service and not by service. 

In view of the utter poverty of the sinner the 
question may arise: What service can any priest 
do for such a helpless object? 

This question leads to the discernment of the 
perfect character and completeness of Jesus as 
a priest. (The Holy Spirit interceding in us and 
for us leads to Christ.) 

First: a priest must have something to offer. 
“Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and 
sacrifices; whereof it is of necessity that this man 
have somewhat also to offer” (Hebrews 8:3). 

This man, Christ Jesus, the son of God, offered 
himself without spot through the eternal Spirit 
to God. “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not” 
(on the part of the sinner) “but a body thou hast 
prepared me” (Hebrews 10:5). By the which 
will we are sanctified through the offering of the 
body of Jesus Christ. “But this man after he 
had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down 
on the right hand of God” (verse 12). The vie- 


According to Scripture 


129 


tim was the victor, and his resurrection was the 
signal of his glory. 

Second: This offering suffices and reaches man’s 
greatest need. “For by one offering he hath per¬ 
fected forever them that are sanctified, and their 
sins and iniquities will he remember no more” 
(Hebrews 14:17). This offering in its effects 
reaches beyond the limit of time and confers the 
power of an endless life. 

Third: Being a royal priest, both king and priest, 
therefore Jesus as priest has sufficient power. 
Human priests were not suffered to continue by 
reason of death, but this man because he continued 
ever hath an unchangeable priest-hood, wherefore 
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that 
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to 
make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7: 23-25). 

Fourth: He has purity: the Jewish high priest 
wore a plate upon the forefront of his miter on 
which was inscribed, “Holiness to the Lord.” 

Jesus needs no external plate. Of Jesus it is 
said: “For such a high-priest became us who is 
holy, harmless, and undefiled, separate from sin¬ 
ners” (Hebrews 7: 26); “who did no sin, neither 
was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22); 
“and ye know that he was manifested to take away 
our sins: and in him is no sin” (1 John 3: 5). 

Fifth: He had sympathy: “Though he were a 
son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suf¬ 
fered” (Hebrews 5:8); “for we have not an high- 
priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of 
our infirmities; but was in all points like as we 
are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4: 15); “where¬ 
fore in all things it behooved him to be made like 
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful 
and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to 


130 


According to Scripture 


God, to make reconcilation for the sins of the 
people: for in that he himself has suffered being 
tempted he is able to succor them that are tempted” 
(Hebrews 2: 17, 18). 

Illustration: The Honorable L. Q. C. Lamar, 
of Mississippi, a member of the United States Su¬ 
preme Court, came from Washington, D. C., to 
Oxford, Miss., to serve as an attorney for a negro 
who had been charged with crime and could get 
no local lawyer to represent him before a jury. 
Great was the surprise of the people when the 
object of Lamar’s coming was known. Some ven¬ 
tured to say to the honorable jurist that to appear 
in court for that negro would be a disgrace to his 
fair name and a stain upon the spotless ermine of 
his office. He replied, “I came to save the fairer 
name, Mississippi, lest one of her lowest citizens 
should be denied trial by jury. Had I denied the 
prayer of that negro and turned him aside, his re¬ 
treating footsteps would have sounded the knell to 
my claim as an attorney or advocate for the guilty.” 

“If any man sin we have an advocate with the 
Father” (1 John 2: 7). 

Sixth: It is not enough that he be righteous, in¬ 
nocent and sympathetic. He must be more than a 
righteous man. He must be God to give virtue 
and value to his obedience and sufferings. 

“The word was God and was made flesh and 
dwelt with us.” Being thus God-man we can rely 
upon him, as with one hand the God-man reaches 
down to man and with the other as a man-God he 
reaches up to God and bind the two as one. “For 
both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified, 
are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed 
to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2: 11). 


According to Scripture 


131 


Seventh: He has a legal call or appointment to 
the office. “No man taketh this honor unto him¬ 
self but he that is called of God as was Aaron. 
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an 
high-priest (Hebrews 5: 45). For the Aaronic 
priests were made without an oath: but this with 
an oath by him that said unto him, the Lord swear 
and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after 
the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7: 20, 21). 
Being by interpretation king of righteousness, king 
of peace, without father, without mother, without 
descent having neither beginning of day nor end 
of life.” Truly as David said, “In the beauties of 
holiness, from the womb of the morning: thou hast 
the dew of thy youth, the Lord hath sworn and 
will not repent. Thou art a priest forever after 
the order of Melchisedec” (Psalm 110: 34). 

The duty of tithing rests not on the law, but 
upon this unchangeable priest-hood, whose descent 
is not counted from Levi, but one made like unto 
the Son of God; abideth a priest continually, who 
received tithes of Abraham. (Hebrews 7: 1-10.) 

This with many other things which could be 
shown puts away the idea that Jesus was made 
a priest by the hands of John, the Baptist. Like¬ 
wise that other conceived thoughts that he was not 
priest until after his ascension. They both Judaize 
the life and office of Christ, the one making him a 
Jewish priest, the other an aspiring Christ living as 
a Jew. If a Jewish priest, he violated the laws of 
the priest-hood in many particulars—was not 
anointed according to the law—did not offer sacri¬ 
fices according to law—did not dress accord¬ 
ing to law—touched dead bodies contrary to law. 

To the idea that he was not a priest till after 
ascension it is replied that he was a priest forever. 


132 


According to Scripture 


“Before Abraham was, I am.” “Jesus Christ the 
same yesterday, today and forever.” 

The plan of salvation by such a priest is the 
only one adapted to the needs of men. In him 
“Mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and 
peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85: 10). 

Sinners against the Lord! Bring to him all your 
causes. Come without delay to Jesus. Put your 
trust in him. He is waiting to be gracious. He 
can and will save to the uttermost all who come 
to God by him, “Seeing he ever liveth to make 
intercession for them.” “Seeing we have such a 
great high-priest it is God that justifies. Who 
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea 
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right 
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for 
us.” 

Having such an High-priest, “I am persuaded 
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi¬ 
palities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any 
other creature, shall be able to separate us from 
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord” 
(Romans 8: 38, 39). 





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